Singapore Grand Prix – Free Practice 1: Ferrari drivers lead ahead of Verstappen

This first free practice session was an opportunity for the 20 regular drivers to test the new Singapore circuit, with its long straight in sector 3. Here, Pirelli has adjusted its range of the softest tires, as is the case on most urban tracks. Although the race will take place with slightly lower temperatures than those experienced during Free Practice 1, they still allowed the drivers to get a good understanding of the level of grip and the differences in settings compared to 2022.

Only one yellow flag was waved during this session and it wasn’t because of the drivers. They behaved themselves, unlike the iguana that crossed the track and caused the yellow flag. There were a few incidents, particularly with Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez cutting corners, but no one crashed, which is good news before the Free Practice 2 that will take place in less than 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Author of last year’s pole position, Charles Leclerc sets the fastest time of this session in 1:33.350. That’s 10 seconds faster than the 2022 FP1. He is ahead of his teammate, Carlos Sainz, by 78 milliseconds. Max Verstappen achieves the third best time in 1:33.476, just 126 milliseconds off the fastest time. The gaps between the top 5 are very small as Norris, in 4th, is only 172 milliseconds behind and Hamilton, in 5th, is 190 milliseconds behind.

George Russell on the second Mercedes is P6 and is ahead of Sergio Perez on the second Red Bull by “only” 250 milliseconds, despite being classified 7th. Fernando Alonso is P8, ahead of Tsunoda on AlphaTauri and Ocon on Alpine.

The best times were all achieved with the red tires, the softest ones, except for the two Alfa Romeo drivers on medium tires.

Free Practice 1 Rankings for the 2023 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix