The Marina Bay Street Circuit welcomed F1 back with a day of surprises, drama, and intense humidity under Singapore’s legendary night race conditions. From Fernando Alonso’s shock pace to multiple red flags and an unusual pit lane collision, day one delivered classic street circuit chaos. What unfolded during the opening practice sessions? Stay tuned with Supercars.com.GH to find out!
FP1
Fernando Alonso produced the day’s biggest surprise by topping FP1 with a commanding 1:31.116, putting Aston Martin ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull in sweltering conditions. The two-time champion’s performance came amid an FIA ‘heat hazard’ declaration following extreme temperatures experienced at the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix.
Alex Albon’s session ended prematurely after just two laps when his Williams suffered a rear brake hardware problem, forcing smoke and fire extinguishers in the garage. Williams confirmed they were “confident” of resolving the issue before FP2, though the Thai-British driver’s early exit meant crucial track time lost.
The session featured multiple moments as drivers explored the limits of the challenging street circuit. Pierre Gasly went deep at Turn 14, taking to the run-off area, while Lewis Hamilton had a close call with the wall exiting the same corner. Lando Norris wobbled through Turn 17, and Leclerc survived a lock-up at Turn 13.
Oscar Piastri struggled initially, reporting the car felt “very understeery” and lapping over half a second slower than teammate Norris. The championship leader eventually improved significantly to claim fifth, edging out Norris in a small victory after his difficult Azerbaijan weekend that saw his points lead cut to 25.
FP2
Piastri bounced back brilliantly by topping FP2 with a 1:30.714, leading Isack Hadjar by just 0.132 seconds in a session disrupted by two red flags and a controversial pit lane incident. The Australian’s performance under the floodlights suggested he had found his rhythm after Friday afternoon’s struggles.
George Russell triggered the first red flag after hitting the barriers at Turn 16, breaking his Mercedes’ front nose and leaving debris scattered across the track. “That was weird,” he remarked while returning to the pits, though worse was to come for the Silver Arrows driver who finished last.
Liam Lawson caused the second stoppage when he hit the wall exiting Turn 17, damaging his Racing Bulls and forcing him to walk back to the garage. Between the red flags, drama erupted in the pit lane when Charles Leclerc emerged from his Ferrari box directly into Lando Norris’s path, sending the McLaren into the pit wall and damaging his front wing.
“He just drove straight into me,” Norris reported frustratedly. Ferrari received a €10,000 fine for the unsafe release, adding controversy to an already chaotic session. The incident cost both drivers valuable track time during the crucial night running.
Can Piastri maintain his Friday night momentum heading into Saturday’s qualifying? Join Supercars.com.GH tomorrow to find out!