Singapore GP F1 practice: Rosberg fastest as Hamilton struggles

Rosberg clocked a 1m44.352s on ultra-soft Pirelli tyres to finish just 0.059s clear of Red Bull driver Verstappen, with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen third.

Hamilton was two-tenths up on Rosberg's fastest time in the first sector on his first flying lap on ultra-softs, but locked up the left-front wheel and had to release the brakes and take to the escape road.

This was the second time in the session that Hamilton had locked up at Turn 7 and followed a scruffy second practice session, during which he failed to complete a clean low-fuel run.

The reigning world champion, who ended the session eighth based on his earlier lap on super-soft Pirellis, also complained about heat coming through the right-hand side of the seat and around the right elbow.

Rosberg led the way early in the session with a 1m45.544s on the super-softs, 0.25s ahead of Hamilton on the same rubber, and improved by 1.2s when he swapped to the ultra-softs.

Verstappen, who was amused to see a giant lizard waiting next to the track as he passed before it crossed the road early in the session, set the fastest middle sector as he slotted into second.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was fourth fastest, half a second slower than his team-mate, with Sebastian Vettel having a difficult session in fifth and complaining of a lack of rear-end grip.

Force India continued its good form this weekend with Nico Hulkenberg sixth, ahead of Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat and Hamilton, whose best lap was on the super-softs.

Carlos Sainz Jr and Valtteri Bottas completed the top 10.

Pascal Wehrlein brought out the red flag early in the session when he lost the rear in the Turn 11 right-hander and backed into the barrier.

The German damaged the rear wing and dropped debris on the track as he returned to the pits, causing a five-minute stoppage.

He spent much of the session in the garage but after a rear wing and floor change, Manor got him back out for the final few minutes and he was able to post 21st fastest time ahead of team-mate Esteban Ocon.

Esteban Gutierrez outperformed his Haas team-mate Romain Grosjean, finishing more than a second quicker in 13th.

PRACTICE THREE TIMES