Leclerc fastest in Singapore GP first practice

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc group nan gait up of McLaren’s Lando Norris successful first believe astatine nan Singapore Grand Prix.

Leclerc was 0.076 seconds quicker than nan Briton, pinch Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz 3rd up of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Norris heads into nan play 59 points down Verstappen successful nan title and needing to support eating into nan Dutchman’s lead to support his title hopes connected track.

Singapore was nan only title past twelvemonth wherever Red Bull grounded to win, and nan squad person travel into nan arena this twelvemonth expecting a difficult weekend.

Verstappen complained of understeer during nan convention and ended it 0.334secs disconnected nan pace.

There were nary crashes during nan convention connected nan demanding Marina Bay thoroughfare circuit but Norris and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso some rescued awesome moments connected nan exit of Turn Eight.

Both drivers slid connected to nan exit kerb and fought to support control, Alonso’s incident truthful ample that he accidentally pressed nan fastener saying he would pit while correcting it.

RB's Yuki Tsunoda was 5th fastest, up of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

Australian Piastri, nan victor of nan Azerbaijan Grand Prix past weekend, had a delayed commencement to nan convention erstwhile his car suffered a nonaccomplishment connected its left-rear area during pit-stop practice.

It was repaired successful clip for Piastri to subordinate nan way aft astir 15 minutes.

He had a brushwood pinch nan wall during nan convention without awesome harm to nan car and ended it 0.606secs disconnected Leclerc’s pace.

RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, whose early successful nan squad is successful doubt, was seventh fastest, from nan Williams of Alex Albon, Alonso and Alpine's Esteban Ocon.

The 2nd convention starts astatine 21:00 section clip (14:00 BST).