Max fastest in Singapore FP1

Published on 16 September 2016 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen started his Singapore Grand Prix weekend with the fastest time in Friday’s first free practice session. Red Bull Racing team mate Daniel Ricciardo showed the Austrian outfit has genuine pace around the five kilometre long street circuit by clocking the second fastest time. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel completed the top three.

At the start of the session, Jenson Button cause a virtual safety car. His McLaren Honda grinds to a halt, ending his session prematurely. Meanwhile, his team mate Fernando Alonso is trailing the halo cockpit protection.

After half a hour, Max sets the fastest lap on a set of the ultra-soft Pirellis. However, Nico Rosberg makes sure the youngster can not enjoy the top spot for long. The German counters with a lap that is over eight tenths quicker, and it is set on the softs.

Despite Rosberg’s excellent lap, Red Bull reclaims its place at the top of the timing sheets when Max and Daniel bolt on another set of ultra-softs. The two drivers post several fastest laps in a row with the Dutchman eventually clinching P1.

In the closing stages, none of the drivers improve on their lap times. Nico Rosberg, in attempt to go top, crashes into the tyre wall. With a broken front wing and a puncture the Mercedes driver makes it back the pits.

Therefore in the end, the top ten sports a few surprises with none of the Mercedes in the top three, but both Scuderia Torro Rosso in the top ten.

Singapore Grand Prix - Marina Bay Street Circuit - Friday 16 August

RESULTS FREE PRACTICE 1

01 33 Max Verstappen      Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:45.823             25
02  3 Daniel Ricciardo    Red Bull Racing TAG Heuer   1:45.872   +0.049s   27
03  5 Sebastian Vettel    Ferrari                     1:46.287   +0.464s   22
04 44 Lewis Hamilton      Mercedes                    1:46.426   +0.603s   24
05  6 Nico Rosberg        Mercedes                    1:46.513   +0.690s   22
06  7 Kimi Räikkönen      Ferrari                     1:46.890   +1.067s   20
07 55 Carlos Sainz        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:46.936   +1.113s   28
08 26 Daniil Kvyat        Toro Rosso Ferrari          1:47.683   +1.860s   29
09 19 Felipe Massa        Williams Mercedes           1:48.044   +2.221s   27
10 21 Esteban Gutierrez   Haas Ferrari                1:48.109   +2.286s   23
11 14 Fernando Alonso     McLaren Honda               1:48.202   +2.379s   21
12 11 Sergio Perez        Force India Mercedes        1:48.214   +2.391s   28
13 27 Nico Hulkenberg     Force India Mercedes        1:48.359   +2.536s   28
14 77 Valtteri Bottas     Williams Mercedes           1:48.453   +2.630s   26
15 12 Felipe Nasr         Sauber Ferrari              1:49.595   +3.772s   16
16 22 Jenson Button       McLaren Honda               1:49.615   +3.792s   20
17 30 Jolyon Palmer       Renault                     1:49.794   +3.971s   27
18 20 Kevin Magnussen     Renault                     1:50.263   +4.440s   29
19 94 Pascal Wehrlein     MRT Mercedes                1:51.112   +5.289s   23
20  9 Marcus Ericsson     Sauber Ferrari              1:51.479   +5.656s   16
21 31 Esteban Ocon        MRT Mercedes                1:52.379   +6.556s   33
22  8 Romain Grosjean     Haas Ferrari                                      2 

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