Singapore GP, Free Practice 1: Red Bull immediately aggressive, with Verstappen ahead of Ricciardo

It's two o'clock Red Bull to dictate the pace in the first Free Practice session Singapore, with Max Verstappen the fastest thanks to a time of 1:45.823, followed by 4 hundredths of a second from his teammate Ricciardo. Third time for the Ferrari di Hag, separated by 4 tenths, while the two Mercedes they follow 6 tenths from the top. Mercedes which however stands out as the only one on the soft compound, in a top ten of ultrasoft tyres. Raikkonen, Sainz, Kvyat, Massa and Gutierrez complete the top ten positions, with Williams which has run so far with only the red compound. The track of Marina Bay it gradually became more rubberized during the first Free Practice sessions - which we remember, however, were held a couple of hours before Qualifying and the race - but already in this phase there was no lack of contacts - even important ones such as that of Rosberg – with the treacherous walls of the city circuit.

News – The day in Singapore turns to sunset when the traffic lights come on in the pit lane and Grosjean's Haas leaves the pits first. The air temperature was 32°C and the asphalt temperature was 39°C. Hulkenberg, Alonso and Hamilton ride the Halo in this first free practice session. After 4 minutes as soon as the VSC enters for Button's McLaren stopped on the side of the track during the installation lap. About ten minutes from the start the laps resumed regularly and the two Mercedes also entered the track. US rubber for them as well as for the two Ferraris. The first time goes to Rosberg, 1:47.936, followed by Hamilton, who takes the lead on the second flying lap in 1:47.436. Third time for Kimi, with the US, ahead of Gutierrez and Bottas, with the Williams on a used SS.

Massa, Perz, Ocon, Hulkenberg and Wehrlein complete the top ten list. Then Bottas takes fourth place behind Kimi. With the S compound Hulkenberg then arrives to avoid the Williams, while Rosberg improves but remains second at 3 tenths. Fourth time for Vettel with US, followed by Verstappen, Gutierrez and Ricciardo. Grosjean, Alonso and Nasr are still without the time trial. Vettel moved into second place while Hamilton dropped to 1:47.369. Thirty minutes from the start Button can return to racing after a problem with the fuel system on his McLaren was resolved. Thirty minutes from the start Hamilton is the leader ahead of Vettel, Verstappen, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Sainz, Gutierrez, Massa and Hulkenberg.

Verstappen took the lead a few minutes later, with a time of 1:47.335 achieved with the used US tyre. Grosjean abandons the session due to a battery problem, Button takes ninth place. Rosberg takes to the track with the new S compound and takes the lead in 1:46.513. Alonso sets his first time with the SS and takes seventh place. New US for Vettel who thus takes the lead in 1:46.287. With the same tire it was therefore Verstappen who set the best lap, 1:46.229, but then Ricciardo's turn came immediately, in 1:45.872. Fifth time for Kvyat, then overtaken by Sainz, also with US. Verstappen returns to the lead in 1:45.823.

Thirty minutes from the checkered flag, Red Bull is in the lead with Verstappen and Ricciardo; followed by Vettel, Hamilton, Rosberg, Sainz, Kvyat, Kimi, Massa and Gutierrez. Raikkonen returned to the pits and once he got out of the car the mechanics were working to resolve a small electrical problem. The Finn returns to the track about ten minutes from the end and takes the seventh fastest time. Nico Rosberg meanwhile is the protagonist of an exit and hits the wall with a punctured front left tire and a damaged front wing. In the final stages of the session Verstappen holds on to the lead ahead of Ricciardo, Vettel, Hamilton, Rosberg, Sainz, Kimi, Kvyat, Massa and Gutierrez, while the drivers are busy with long runs. Raikkonen improves on the razor's edge and snatches the sixth fastest time from Toro Rosso. The checkered flag gives the first free practice session to Max Verstappen's Red Bull.

GP Singapore – Times, results and laps Free Practice 1