Fernando Alonso Leads First Session at Singapore
Singapore Grand Prix
Race weekend includes the main event kicking off at British Summer Time on Sunday.
Real-time updates streamed on radio channels and mobile app.
FP1 Results Overview
The team's two-time champion set the pace beating Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and reigning champion during first practice for the Marina Bay race.
The British team's championship contenders Australian rookie and Lando Norris concluded the run in fifth and sixth.
The young Australian was over two tenths speedier than the Briton.
The experienced Spaniard was a tenth and a half leading of the Ferrari driver and a clear gap faster than Verstappen.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was fourth fastest.
Weekend Outlook
Few anticipate that Aston Martin will be front-runners for P1.
Nonetheless, the outfit are confident of a improved performance on a tight circuit that is more suited to their vehicle, which performs better when significant amounts of downforce are needed.
Veteran racer Alonso is also renowned as a street circuit master, and usually excels on the Singapore circuit.
However he was likely using less fuel or a more aggressive setting than his rivals, or both, to post the fastest lap.
Practice Conditions
His team-mate Lance Stroll was 1.918secs behind in the lower order.
Stroll had problems with his seat during the initial runs and was also running new components.
Opening practice in Singapore is not representative of conditions for qualifying and race as it is run in afternoon sun in late afternoon, while qualifying and the race are held after dark.
Title Battle
Piastri is ahead of Norris by a solid margin with remaining rounds ahead as they approach the event in the Lion City.
McLaren are poised to wrap up the constructors' championship on the weekend.
Sole scenario they can not tie it up in this race is if Mercedes surpass them by over thirty or the Scuderia manage it by a similar margin.
Red Bull Update
The energy drink brand's team are positive of a strong result after recent successes in Italy and Azerbaijan preceding this Grand Prix.
The team breathed a sigh when precipitation coming down ahead of FP1 stopped by the time the vehicles went out on a surface that had stayed clear.
Team consultant Helmut Marko commented before the session that they required a uninterrupted running to make a comprehensive start on fine-tuning their set-up for the weekend.
