Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the pace in the first practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. The Monegasque driver was less than a tenth of a second ahead of Norris, with Carlos Sainz and championship leader Max Verstappen following closely behind. Leclerc clocked in a time of 1:31.763 on hard compound tires, with Norris just 0.076 seconds behind on mediums. The session was a tentative start to the race weekend, with conditions set to change for qualifying and the race under the night lights.
McLaren’s Norris is chasing down Verstappen in the drivers’ standings, as the Red Bull driver’s lead stands at 59 points with seven races left in the season. Last year, Red Bull was unable to secure a win in Singapore, and with McLaren currently leading the constructors’ standings, the pressure is on for the defending champions. Australian driver Oscar Piastri, who won in Baku, faced challenges in Singapore as he was last out of the pits due to a wheel nut issue. Despite this setback, he managed to place sixth on soft tires.
Verstappen’s dominance in the first half of the season has waned as McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes have all claimed victories in recent races. The Singapore Grand Prix presents a new challenge for the Dutch driver, as he has struggled on the street circuit in the past. Red Bull historically faces difficulties in Singapore due to the unpredictable weather conditions and challenging track layout. While Perez secured a victory for Red Bull in 2022, the team has not had consistent success at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell faced challenges in the first practice session, with both struggling to find the right balance on the circuit. The team has had success in Singapore in the past, even during lean years, but the competition remains fierce. With potential for tropical storms, intense humidity, and safety car interventions, the Singapore Grand Prix promises to be an exciting and unpredictable race. Verstappen will need to overcome his previous struggles on the circuit to maintain his lead in the championship standings.
Overall, the first practice session in Singapore set the stage for an intense and competitive race weekend, with Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull all vying for success on the challenging Marina Bay Street Circuit. As the championship battle heats up, drivers will need to navigate the unique conditions of the Singapore night race to secure valuable points in the title race. With the top teams closely matched in performance, fans can expect a thrilling and unpredictable grand prix in the heart of the city-state.
