Singapore GP: Alonso surprises, tops FP1 from Leclerc

Fernando Alonso set the pace in Formula 1’s first free practice session at the Singapore Grand Prix, showing that Aston Martin could be a force in the city-state’s tight, twisty street circuit.

The two-time world champion posted a 1m31.116s on soft tyres in the daylight FP1, narrowly edging out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.15 seconds, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen a further 0.126s adrift.

The session provided an early glimpse of the challenges ahead, as low-grip conditions and dust on the off-line sections made it difficult for drivers to carry speed through the tighter corners.

• Singapore Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results

Multiple lock-ups occurred in the opening stages, underlining just how tricky Marina Bay can be in the first run of a weekend.

Aston Martin opted for a different opening strategy to the majority of the field, sending Alonso out on medium tyres while the rest of the grid started on hards. The Spaniard initially set a 1m32.592s to lead after the opening 15 minutes, showcasing the car’s early pace.

Lando Norris temporarily displaced him with a 1m32.493s on the hard compound, but Aston charger returned to the top with a 1m32.054s just ten minutes later.

The session saw a competitive intra-Spanish battle emerge, as Carlos Sainz bolted on medium tyres to dip under the 92-second barrier, posting a 1m31.812s that briefly put him ahead of Alonso. With track evolution and tyre strategies in play, the latter stages of the hour-long session became a showdown for soft-tyre pace.

Soft Tyres and the Fight for the Benchmark

In the second half of FP1, drivers switched to the softer compounds in search of ultimate pace. Leclerc quickly established a benchmark of 1m31.266s on his first lap on softs, prompting McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to respond.

Both drivers struggled to improve, cycling through the pit lane to adjust their front-wing angles after encountering understeer issues—particularly Piastri, who cited an “understeery” car following his initial soft-tyre effort.

Alonso, however, demonstrated remarkable consistency and extracted maximum performance from the Aston Martin.

On his opening soft-tyre lap, he posted a 1m31.117s to surpass Leclerc, and a subsequent effort shaved an additional thousandth of a second from his best, securing him the top spot in FP1.

Verstappen, meanwhile, could not close the gap on the C5s, leaving Ferrari and Aston Martin in early control.

The Status in the Midfield

Behind the top three, Lewis Hamilton secured fourth fastest, 0.364s off Alonso’s benchmark, with Piastri narrowly behind after his minor wall contact.

Norris was sixth fastest, rounding out a competitive McLaren showing. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar impressed in Singapore, placing seventh, while Sainz avoided the soft tyres entirely and slotting eighth.

Completing the top ten were Yuki Tsunoda and Esteban Ocon, reflecting a mixed session for midfield contenders.

The session was not without drama. Alex Albon suffered a brake fire in the opening 10 minutes, forcing urgent attention from his Williams crew to quell the smoke and prevent further damage. Fortunately, the issue was contained, allowing the rookie to continue running later in the session.

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