How Friday practice at the F1 2023 Singapore GP unfolded

Relive all of the F1 action from Friday practice at the Singapore Grand Prix here.

15 Sep 2023
15:05
Thanks for tuning in!

Thank you for tuning in to today's live coverage of practice!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for live updates and all the Saturday action, beginning with FP3 at 10:30am UK time. Qualifying will then follow at 2pm UK time - can Ferrari impress again?

15:02
Sainz tops FP2 in another Ferrari 1-2!

Carlos Sainz rounds off a perfect Friday for Ferrari, as they top the timesheets in both practice sessions.

His time of a 1:32.120 is just 0.018 clear of Charles Leclerc in P2, with a healthy seven tenth advantage to Championship leader Max Verstappen for the Scuderia.

Alex Albon finished bottom of the timings, however had his session cut short early on due to a power unit issue.

Full finishing order for FP2: Sainz, Leclerc, Russell, Alonso, Hamilton, Norris, Perez, Verstappen, Magnussen, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Lawson, Ocon, Stroll, Piastri, Tsunoda, Zhou, Gasly, Sargeant, Albon. 

14:56
Pleasant viewing for the Tifosi...
14:54
Piastri getting the laps in

One driver we can spare a thought for is Oscar Piastri, who is without most of the upgrades seen on his teammate Lando Norris' car this weekend. 

Despite being in P15 now, he can look forward to benefitting from the new parts which appear to be working well in Norris' favour, when he receives the remainder of the upgrades next time out in Japan. 

14:51
The long runs begin

The lap times are getting slower as data gathering commences for a lot of cars on track, including Fernando Alonso on the medium tyre. 

With 10 minutes to go, don't be surprised to see the order change, which is currently: SAI, LEC, RUS, ALO, HAM, NOR, PER, VER, MAG, BOT, HUL, LAW, OCO, STR, PIA, TSU, ZHO, GAS, SAR, ALB. 

14:48
Close call for Sainz and Verstappen!
14:47
That McLaren Stealth livery under the lights, though...
14:46
Small improvements for Checo

Last year's winner Perez once again takes to the track on the soft tyre and once again is well short of Sainz, despite a small improvement to P6.

14:42
More complaints for Red Bull

"It's just not coming, mate. Every braking zone I feel like I'm gonna crash. The rear is just stepping out massively", Perez tells his team.

Further evidence of the oversteer suffered by Verstappen earlier on...

14:38
Interesting reading with 25 to go

Despite both doing soft tyre runs, the Red Bulls find themselves P7 and P8 - over seven tenths shy of Sainz at the top.

While we must reiterate this is only practice, could Singapore be the track that finally proves an obstacle for them?

14:35
Finding the limits...
14:31
Sainz top with half an hour gone!

Sainz has gone back to P1 on the soft tyre, ahead of his teammate by just under two hundreths of a second.

Top 10: SAI, LEC, HAM, ALO, NOR, MAG, BOT, LAW, STR, TSU.

14:28
The soft tyre runs begin

The soft tyres are on as the quicker lap times will be sure to start coming in.

Leclerc tops Sainz on the medium in P1 and P2 in a good couple of practice sessions so far for Ferrari, with a mention to the AlphaTauris of Tsunoda and Lawson in P3 and P8. 

14:22
Albon's session looks to be over...

After trundling back to the pits with an issue, Albon is out of his car in the garage.

With no rush apparent from his engineers and his engine cover off, it would appear the Thai-British driver may be fortunate to get back out on track today.

14:19
No grip for Verstappen

Max Verstappen's lack of grip from FP1 doesn't seem to have been solved, as the Red Bull's back end steps out going under the bridge. 

14:16
Sainz continuing his impressive form from Monza...
14:15
Lewis gets his lap in

Lewis Hamilton sets his quickest time so far of the session, splitting the Red Bulls in P5.

The Mercedes driver is still seven tenths short of the Ferraris however, despite being on the same tyre. 

14:12
Ferrari back on top

The Scuderia have continued where they left off in FP1, with Sainz and Leclerc topping the timesheets on the medium tyre after 10 minutes.

Alonso is in third, with the two Red Bulls close behind.

14:07
A quiet first five

Not much to report in the opening five minutes, with plenty of drivers out on track and setting times. 

Max Verstappen is seen navigating through some slow moving traffic towards the end of the lap.

14:01
FP2 is underway!

The tyre blankets are off as FP2 goes green under the lights!

13:58
Welcome back!

Welcome back to the blog as we near the start of FP2!

The sun has set and the lights are on at Marina Bay, one of F1's truly beautiful spectacles.

11:36
Join us again for FP2!

The blog will resume this afternoon ahead of FP2, with the drivers taking to the track at 2pm UK time. 

Join us again then for updates on all the action on track! No guarantee of interrupting lizards, however...

11:34
Leclerc tops FP1!

In a session quite literally full of lizards, its Charles Leclerc who sets the fastest time of FP1 with a 1:33.350.

His teammate Sainz finishes close behind in P2, with Verstappen, Norris, Hamilton, Russell, Perez and Tsunoda and Ocon rounding out the top 10.

Stroll is in P11, ahead of Gasly, Albon, Bottas, Magnussen, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Zhou, Piastri and Sargeant to complete the final order.

11:29
Yet another lizard!

'Another lizard but a different one this time', points out the eagle eyed George Russell with just two minutes to go now. 

11:26
The team in red on top!