George Russell has gone fastest in the single practice session for this weekend’s Formula 1 Sprint weekend at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The Brit, who will be relegated to the back of the grid on Sunday due to an engine change, topped the timesheets with a 1:32.274s, two tenths ahead of Charles Leclerc, whose time was set in the final moments.
Lando Norris ended the session third, with Lewis Hamilton down in fourth.
Oscar Piastri was fifth, and Max Verstappen sixth, the Dutchman – who took his first win of the season in Malaysia last week – seven tenths of a second adrift of Russell.
However, with Medium tyres bolted onto the RB22, Verstappen was the clear frontrunner on that compound. His nearest challenger on Mediums was title leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
But the Italian – who went off down the escape road during a failed attempt at a final flying lap – was seven tenths behind the Red Bull.
Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar struggled during the session, complaining of heavy bottoming as well as a “slippery” throttle pedal.
Much of the hour elapsed without drama, but Nico Hulkenberg was the only casualty, his Audi coming to a stop on the pit exit, informing his team of “something bad” happening with his gearbox.
Qualifying for the Sprint Race will take place at 13:30 UK time.
READ MORE – F1 2026 Singapore Grand Prix – FP1 Results
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