Singapore Grand Prix 2026 FP1: Verstappen tops the timesheets, Leclerc close behind
Max Verstappen set the fastest lap in Friday’s opening practice at Marina Bay, with Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris completing the top three.
Friday’s first free‑practice session (FP1) at the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix delivered an early glimpse of the championship battle on the glittering streets of Marina Bay. Max Verstappen, driving for Red Bull Racing, posted the quickest lap of the day – a 1:35.842 on medium‑compound tyres – putting the Dutch driver ahead of his rivals and signalling that Red Bull remains the benchmark on the high‑downforce circuit.
Close on Verstappen’s heels was Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who recorded a 1:36.017 to secure second place. Leclerc’s performance suggests that the Scuderia has made significant progress on the new aerodynamic package introduced for 2026, a point highlighted by the team’s technical director in the post‑session briefing. Lando Norris of McLaren rounded out the top three with a 1:36.254, confirming the British driver’s growing confidence on the tight, twisty layout.
The remainder of the field was tightly packed, with Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and George Russell posting laps in the 1:36.8–1:37.2 range, while Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly struggled to break the 1:38 barrier. Notably, rookie Oscar Piastri impressed on his debut for McLaren, setting a respectable 1:38.041 and placing him just inside the top ten. The session was marked by a brief red‑flag after a minor collision between AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda and Haas’s Kevin Magnussen at Turn 12. Both cars were cleared quickly, and the incident did not significantly affect the overall flow of the session.
For Indian fans, the FP1 action began at 11:30 am IST and ran for 90 minutes. The session was streamed live on FanCode, which also provided a dedicated commentary feed featuring former Indian F1 driver Narain Karthikeyan. Those who missed the live broadcast can catch the full highlights on FanCode’s on‑demand portal, where the official Formula 1 YouTube channel’s highlight reel is also embedded.
Looking ahead, the timing of the practice sessions suggests a tight race weekend schedule, with FP2 slated for 3:30 pm IST on Friday and qualifying set for 2:00 pm IST on Saturday. Teams will now turn their focus to tyre management and qualifying simulations, especially given the high ambient temperatures and humidity that often challenge grip levels at Marina Bay.
Source: Formula 1