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Formula 1 Singapore GP

F1 Singapore GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP1 & FP2

All of the action from Friday's sessions at the Marina Bay Circuit

Singapore skyline and Science Museum

F1's first ever night race back in 2008, Singapore's Marina Bay circuit blends a challenging layout with hot, tropical conditions to work the drivers hard throughout the 61-lap race.

Sebastian Vettel won last time out in 2019, beating Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc to claim his final victory for the Scuderia - and his most recent win in F1.

Max Verstappen could theoretically win the F1 title this weekend if he wins and Leclerc is unable to score, but the Dutchman has admitted that it would be "unrealistic" to wrap it up before Japan.

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Given the time of day and conditions, first practice wasn't hugely representative of what to expect for qualifying and the race, but at the very least it acted as a handy refresher given F1 hasn't been here for three years.
Anyway, for now we'll pause the off-track talk and switch attention to what happened on the track in Singapore. Hamilton topped FP1 from Verstappen and Leclerc, while Stroll caused a red flag after a crash at Turn 5.

This all started with F1 teams awaiting answers on compliance with the cost cap, as paddock intrigue on possible rule breaches sparked up surrounding both Aston Martin and Red Bull.

Full story: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-cost-cap-answers-to-come-next-week-amid-rule-breach-intrigue/10376645/

Breaking news

Focus on cost cap breaches has intensified, with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff urging FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to take a "robust" approach if any teams are judged to have broken the rules.

Full story: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/wolff-fia-must-take-robust-stance-if-f1-teams-broke-budget-cap/10376743/

Hello once again! It is not long until second practice in Singapore, and it has been quite the interval off of the track.
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We'll catch you in a bit for FP2, see you in about an hour's time!
Breaking news
Here's the report from FP1 at Singapore: https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/f1-singapore-gp-hamilton-leads-verstappen-and-leclerc-in-fp1/10376657/
And that's P1 for Hamilton, from Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Russell and Sainz. Ocon was seventh from the wall-bothering Stroll, with Gasly and Alonso completing the top 10.
Checkered flag
And that's the chequered flag - last orders, gentlemen!
Sainz, meanwhile, reports that the soft tyre is struggling for grip on the second lap. Verstappen has a spin in sector three, but he's back on the road.
Stopwatch
Hamilton goes fastest with a 1m43.033s, on the soft tyre.
Perez has trundled back to the pitlane with a box full of neutrals. Looks like it's session over for the Mexican driver.
Leclerc gets up to second with a 1m43.435s - that's much closer to Verstappen now. Perez is third from Russell, Sainz and Ocon.
Sainz logs a 1m44.138s on the softs - a second off Verstappen's time, as the Ferrari goes "slightly" wide into the final corner and kept his car out of the wall.
Green flag
We're back under green flag conditions, and Sainz, Tsunoda and Latifi kick us back off. 15 minutes remain.
Stopwatch
This comes as Verstappen and Perez just posted laps on the soft tyre - a 1m43.117s for Verstappen and a 1m43.839s for Perez.
Red flag
Scratch that - it's a red flag. Stroll's stopped and pulled over - he just couldn't get the car fully turned into Turn 5 and clunks the rear of the car.
Crash
Stroll's hit the wall! His Aston Martin is crabbing with bent rear-left suspension, and he'll have to try and drag it back to the pitlane.
Sainz had a big snap - "I had a moment," he says, as he keeps the Ferrari out of the wall.
"What's going on with this torque overrun in Turns 8 and 9? Do you see it?" Russell asks - Riccardo Musconi reports that it's on the data, and thus Mercedes will investigate. He's asked to lock the differential.
Stroll fires his Aston Martin up into second place, 0.9s off Verstappen on the same compound. Red Bull, Aston and Alpine look solid so far, as the other teams wrestle with setups.
Five-time Singapore GP winner Vettel moves up to fourth, on the medium tyre. He's got a matte-black helmet for this weekend that looks incredibly dapper, complete with fluorescent styling.
Albon's up to seventh after returning to his car, following the one-race lay-off with appendicitis. Soft tyres, but he's seemingly up to speed.
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"It's very clear the setup change we need to do guys, the changes we talked about," Sainz says. He's P4, 1.3s off Verstappen's time but has only lapped on hard tyres thus far.
Leclerc's finally on the road after his earlier brake issue - he's one of four cars on track as the others retreat to find ice water, Cornettos and the blast of an air conditioner.
Stopwatch
Verstappen's on a 1m44.236s now as he comes into the pits, as Alonso pops into P2 to split the Red Bulls. Perez is 1.6s off Verstappen at this juncture.
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"There's a lot of bouncing for me," Norris reports. There's lots of flow-viz around the new sidepod, with the revised undercut around the front face of the inlet, with a clear channel towards the rear end of the car.
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"I went in straight on, there's nothing wrong with the steering or anything like that" says Russell.
Stopwatch
And there's a 1m44.748s for Verstappen, who's continuing to exert his control over this session.
Russell actually went into the barrier, but looks to have got away scot-free. No visible damage to that front wing.
Yellow flag
There's a brief yellow flag for a spinny George Russell, but the Briton is back facing the right way. There's also a lot of yellow on Norris' McLaren, as he tests a series of new aero parts.
Stopwatch
Verstappen then smashes Alonso's time with a 1m45.466s, looking very comfortable already.
Stopwatch
And there's 2008 winner Fernando Alonso with a 1m47.291s to go top.
Leclerc's back into the pits, and Ferrari begins to fiddle with his brakes. Of all the things you need at Singapore, braking confidence is up there. And a fan.
Stopwatch
Norris has brought the times down into the 1m49s, but Verstappen immediately throws down the gauntlet with a 1m47.329s.
Stopwatch
Leclerc reckons there's something off with his brakes, and doesn't look entirely comfortable on his sighter lap. Meanwhile, Bottas kicks us off with a 1m51.264s, beaten by record lap-holder Magnussen with a 1m51.074s.
Green flag
And there's a green light - let's go.
So we've got Singapore at Marina Bay, Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina, and Miami with a, erm, fake marina.

By: autosport.com

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