Singapore FP1: Red Bull Racing on top
Published on 14 September 2018 by Stefan Meens
In the opening session of the Singapore Grand Prix, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing led the around the Marina Bay Circuit. Daniel Ricciardo was fastest ahead of Max Verstappen. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel completed the top three.
Unlike FP2, qualifying and the race, the first free practice session is run in daylight. At the start, it is busy on track with most drivers heading out for an installation lap.
Throughout the session, Red Bull show good pace with both Max and Ricciardo in the top five when all drivers are on their first set of Pirelli tyres. In the second part of qualifying, with fresh rubber, the lap times tumble.
Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen utilize the extra grip and go first and second. Shortly after, Max splits the two before Ricciardo tops them all by going fastest. Max squeezes in another quick lap to move up to second.
Meanwhile, 2019 Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc damages his front wheel by hitting his Sauber off the wall just after the bridge. “Sorry guys, my fault, I hit the wall”, explains the youngster to his team.
In the closing stages, it is busy on the circuit but the on-track action does not result in faster laps, meaning Red Bull finish on top.
