Max tops the board at Singapore's first free practice

Published on 20 September 2019 by Mike Motilall

Max Verstappen topped the leaderboard during the first free practice in the run up to the Singapore Grand Prix. On the 5,071 meter long Marina Bay Circuit, Sebastian Vettel came in second fastest in his Ferrari. Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton took his Mercedes to the third spot.

At the start of the first free practice, there is still daylight in Singapore. Only during the second free practice later on today, will the artificial lights be turned on as darkness will fall on the city. When the lights are out, the track gets somewhat crowded. Most of the drivers only do an installation lap. Alex Albon, running for one of the top teams, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, is the first to head out on track. Not much later Max follows suit. Eventually it’s Ferrari-driving Charles Leclerc who is the first to get a timed lap.

For quite some time we only see both Ferraris on the track. After about fifteen minutes, Robert Kubica and Nico Hulkenberg also head out as the track starts getting busier as well. Max rears his head also. The Dutchman puts his RB15 immediately on the first spot after his first timed lap. In doing so he is half a second up on Leclerc who is in P2 at that moment. However, the Red Bull-driver does his lap on the soft compound while both Ferraris are making tracks on the mediums.

After a short stop in the pits, Max heads out once again on the same set of tyres. Being quick in the second sector puts the fast paced youngster once again in P1. He doesn’t get long to savour the moment as Lewis Hamilton plants his Mercedes at the front of the field. At that moment, the first set of tyres are handed over and we surprisingly see Lance Stroll in third behind of Hamilton and Max.

At the start of the second part of the session, we see that Valtteri Bottas is the first to make to the track with a set of hards strapped on to his Mercedes. He sees an opportunity to settle in behind of Hamilton in P2 after a flying lap. Not much later, the Finn manages to extract even more from his car and snatches away P1.

With well over half an hour remaining, Max is out and about again. Once again he has a set of the soft compound strapped on to his Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel has climbed up to the number one spot by that time. Max manages to better his fastest time and lands in P2, a tenth a drift from the German. Meanwhile, Leclerc has limped back to the pits with issues to his drive shaft on his Ferrari.

Bigger problems follow not too long afterwards for Mercedes and actually for Bottas. The Finn loses the rear of his Mercedes entering Turn 19 and ends up in the wall. This triggers a red flag. The impact leaves the left side of his car badly damaged.

With just 17 minutes remaining, the track is cleared again. At the front of the field, there are no changes and with that the first free practice comes to an end.

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Results first free practice Singapore: