Red Bull dominates free practice 1

With times achieved with ultra-soft tires, back in action this weekend, Red Bull Racing rose to the top of the hierarchy at the end of the first free practice session on the Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore.

If you feel like you want to take the Mercedes were the first on track, and to jump to the top of the timesheet with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, who tested the Halo for the first time in free practice, Ferrari then Red Bull then took the lead, Max Verstappen having the last word in 1'45″823.

The Dutchman is 49 thousandths ahead of his teammate Daniel Ricciardo and the Ferrari SF16-H of Sebastian Vettel. These three drivers achieved their time using the softest tires developed by Pirelli.

The two Mercedes of Hamilton and Rosberg follow in the standings at six tenths, but the two star drivers set their benchmark time on soft tires. The German driver also made a mistake when braking at turn 18, and hit the protective wall.. Without a front wing and with a flat tire, the vice-champion was however able to return to his stand.

Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) follows in sixth position ahead of both Toro Rosso de Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat. The Russian is one of the many drivers to have left marks on the walls bordering the track, just like Verstappen, Vettel and Alonso.

Felipe Massa (Williams) and Esteban Gutiérrez (Haas) complete the top 10 ahead of Fernando Alonso (McLaren) who also tested the Halo. The two Force Indias of Pérez and Hulkenberg, who performed well on soft tires, follow in the ranking.

To Romain Grosjean (Haas), the weekend did not start ideally. The Frenchman was forced to end his session prematurely, without signing a single timed lap. Haas was investigating a possible leak on the VF-16. For his part, Esteban Ocon (Manor) concludes with the 21st time.

16th in front of both Renault, Jenson Button (McLaren) caused the virtual safety car procedure to be put in place at the start of the session, after stopping on the track. The second free practice session will begin at 15:30 p.m. French time.

Results Free Trials 1