Aston Martin's Alonso Tops Opening Practice at Singapore

Marina Bay Street Circuit

3-5 October features the grand prix starting at British Summer Time on Sunday.

Real-time commentary available on digital platforms and official website.

FP1 Results Overview

The team's Fernando Alonso topped the times beating Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen in first practice at the street circuit event.

The British team's drivers Australian rookie and British talent wrapped up the practice in mid-table positions.

The young Australian was over two tenths quicker than Norris.

The experienced Spaniard was a tenth and a half leading of Leclerc and 0.276secs faster than the Red Bull star.

Ferrari's British icon was fourth fastest.

Team Strategies

It is not expected that Aston Martin will be contenders for pole position.

That said, the outfit are confident of a improved performance on a low-speed track that is better matched to their vehicle, which runs more competitively when significant amounts of aerodynamic grip are needed.

Double world title winner Fernando is also known as a Marina Bay expert, and usually excels on the Marina Bay street track.

Yet he was likely operating with a lighter load or a higher engine mode than his competitors, or a combination, to post the fastest lap.

Team Updates

Fellow driver Canadian racer was a significant margin off the pace in P18.

Stroll had issues with his cockpit early in the session and was also running new components.

Opening practice in Marina Bay is not indicative of race pace later in the weekend as it is run in bright conditions in the daytime, while qualifying and the race are staged under floodlights.

Championship Standings

Piastri has an advantage over his teammate by a solid margin with seven races left heading into the weekend in the Lion City.

McLaren are in position to clinch the constructors' championship on Sunday.

Sole scenario they can miss out in this race is if the Silver Arrows outscore them by thirty-one or the Scuderia manage it by thirty-five.

Rival Teams

Red Bull are optimistic of a good performance after Verstappen's victories in Italy and Azerbaijan preceding this Grand Prix.

The team breathed a sigh when precipitation falling ahead of FP1 stopped by the moment the vehicles took to the track on a track that had remained dry.

Team consultant Helmut Marko commented ahead of practice that they needed a uninterrupted running to make a comprehensive start on understanding their set-up for the weekend.

Theresa White
Theresa White

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