Fernando Alonso Sets Pace First Session at Singapore Grand Prix
Marina Bay Street Circuit
This weekend features the main event kicking off at 13:00 BST on Sunday.
Real-time commentary streamed on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and mobile app.
Practice Session Overview
The team's Spanish veteran was fastest beating Monegasque driver and Red Bull's Max Verstappen during FP1 at the street circuit event.
The British team's drivers Australian rookie and Lando Norris wrapped up the session in fifth and sixth.
Piastri was 0.217 seconds quicker than Norris.
The experienced Spaniard was 0.150secs leading of Leclerc and over a quarter of a second clear than the Red Bull star.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was fourth fastest.
Weekend Outlook
It is not expected that Aston Martin will be in the mix for the top spot.
Nonetheless, the squad are hopeful of a better weekend on a technical venue that is better matched to their car, which runs more competitively when significant amounts of downforce are called for.
Veteran racer Fernando is also famous as a Marina Bay expert, and usually excels on the Marina Bay street track.
Yet he was probably using reduced weight or a more aggressive setting than his opponents, or a combination, to achieve that pace.
Session Details
Partner Canadian racer was a significant margin off the pace in the lower order.
The Canadian had issues with his driving position at the start and was also running experimental parts.
The first session in Singapore is not reflective of race pace under lights as it is conducted in afternoon sun in late afternoon, while qualifying and the race are held under floodlights.
Points Situation
Piastri leads Norris by a quarter-century with seven races ahead as they approach the Grand Prix in the Lion City.
McLaren are poised to wrap up the team title on Sunday.
The only way they can fail to secure it in this race is if Mercedes surpass them by thirty-one or the Scuderia achieve that by thirty-five.
Competitor Outlook
Red Bull are optimistic of a strong result after Max's wins in Monza and Baku ahead of this Grand Prix.
The team breathed a sigh when drizzle occurring ahead of FP1 abated by the moment the machines emerged on a surface that had remained dry.
Motorsport adviser Helmut Marko commented prior to running that they required a dry hour to get underway on fine-tuning their car configuration for the weekend.