Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin set the fastest time in the first practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc as the track witnessed early drama with Alex Albon’s Williams catching fire. Alonso, who recently suggested that 2026 might be his final season in Formula 1, posted a lap 0.150 seconds quicker than Leclerc, marking his first practice session lead this year.
The session unfolded under the hotter daytime conditions, which differ significantly from the cooler, night-time schedule of qualifying and the race itself. Alonso managed to capitalize on improved track conditions by running his lap later than most drivers and potentially carrying a lighter fuel load, giving him an edge over the competition.
Practice Session Performance and Standings
Behind Alonso and Leclerc, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured third place, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in fourth, both within four-tenths of the top time. The McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, expected to do well on this street circuit, only managed fifth and sixth places respectively, raising concerns about their potential dominance at Marina Bay.
Verstappen has won the last two races and has been reducing his gap to championship leader Charles Leclerc—from 104 points at September’s start to 69 points with seven rounds left. Singapore remains the sole circuit where Verstappen has yet to claim victory, partly due to Red Bull’s historical struggles at this venue.
Challenges for Williams and Emerging Talents
Rookie Isack Hadjar impressed by placing seventh despite having no previous experience on the Singapore track, followed by Carlos Sainz in eighth. However, Williams faced a setback when Alex Albon was unable to complete a timed lap because of a brake issue that sparked a significant fire during the session. According to Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz,
“Williams say it was a hardware problem on the rear brakes. They had this with Carlos Sainz in Austria which meant he could not start the race.”
Kravitz further explained,
“They don’t think it was a brake-by-wire failure which didn’t allow the rear axel to be slowed down by the ERS system and that led the rears to overheat.”
He added,
“Williams are confident they can fix the problem and get him out for FP2. Not a lot lost in terms of relevant track conditions but a lot lost in terms of getting your eye in on the circuit.”
Upcoming Sessions and Singapore GP Schedule
The second practice session later on Friday will provide a clearer picture of the running order, as the conditions will better simulate the track’s cooler night temperatures. The Singapore Grand Prix weekend continues with practice three, qualifying, and the race scheduled to take place under the iconic night lights at Marina Bay.
Friday’s timetable includes:
- 11:55 AM: F1 Academy Qualifying
- 12:40 PM: Team principals’ press conference
- 1:45 PM: Singapore GP Practice Two (starts at 2 PM)
- 3:15 PM: The F1 Show
Saturday features:
- 7:55 AM: F1 Academy Race 1
- 10:15 AM: Practice Three (starts at 10:30 AM)
- 1:00 PM: Qualifying build-up
- 2:00 PM: Singapore GP Qualifying
- 4:00 PM: Ted’s Quali Notebook
On race day, Sunday:
- 8:20 AM: F1 Academy Race 2
- 11:30 AM: Grand Prix build-up
- 1:00 PM: Singapore Grand Prix start
- 3:00 PM: Post-race reaction
- 4:00 PM: Ted’s Notebook
Significance for the Championship Battle
The 2025 Formula 1 title race is intensifying as Charles Leclerc aims to maintain his lead with seven rounds remaining. Verstappen’s recent victories have tightened the championship gap significantly, but success in Singapore remains elusive for him. Strong performances here from Alonso and Leclerc set the tone for a challenging weekend, while Williams’ technical issues highlight the fragility teams still face on such demanding circuits.
As the weekend progresses, the next practice sessions and qualifying will be critical in shaping the grid, while drivers must adapt to the unique physical and mechanical challenges posed by the Marina Bay Street Circuit under night conditions. The outcome could have a meaningful impact on the momentum heading into the concluding stages of the highly competitive season.
