George Russell tops sole Singapore practice as teams fine‑tune for night race

George Russell (Mercedes) emerged as the fastest driver in the only practice session at the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Thursday, posting a lap time of 1:44.896, according to GPblog. The session, shortened to a single 45‑minute block due to the Singapore Grand Prix’s unique night‑time schedule, gave teams just enough track time to gauge tyre behaviour and aerodynamic balance before qualifying.

Mercedes appeared to have found a sweet spot on the new 2026‑era tyre compounds, with Russell’s performance underscoring the team’s confidence in their low‑downforce setup. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were next on the leaderboard, clocking 1:45.102 and 1:45.210 respectively, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez were placed fourth and fifth. The spread between the top five was less than half a second, suggesting a highly competitive grid heading into qualifying.

The practice also highlighted the challenges of Singapore’s humid, after‑dark conditions. Teams reported higher tyre degradation than expected, prompting several crews to experiment with different tyre pressures and brake cooling strategies. Notably, McLaren’s Lando Norris struggled with overheating brakes, finishing the session outside the top ten, a reminder that the circuit’s long straights and heavy braking zones remain a test of reliability as much as speed.

For Indian fans: The Singapore Grand Prix will be broadcast live on FanCode with commentary in English and Hindi. Qualifying starts at 22:00 IST on Friday, followed by the race at 23:00 IST on Saturday. Fans can also stream the session via the official F1 TV app, which offers a dedicated Indian feed. Keep an eye on Russell’s pace – if he can translate practice speed into a strong qualifying performance, the championship battle could tighten further as the season moves into its second half.

Source: GPblog