Alonso Leads Singapore GP Opening Practice, Albon's Williams Catches Fire

Fernando Alonso surprised the grid by topping the first practice session for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, putting his Aston Martin ahead of Ferrari, McLaren, and Max Verstappen's Red Bull. This strong showing from Alonso was a key highlight, as Alex Albon's Williams faced an early setback with a rear brake fire that ended his session prematurely.

Why it matters:

Alonso's unexpected pace at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, a track notorious for its demands, suggests Aston Martin might have a stronger package than anticipated for the weekend. For Williams, Albon's brake fire is a concerning mechanical issue that could impact their crucial track time, potentially jeopardizing their weekend performance.

The Details:

• Alonso's Dominance: Fernando Alonso set the fastest lap with a 1m31.116s, utilizing a different tire strategy by starting on medium (C4) compounds before switching to softs (C5) for his quickest runs. This strategic choice allowed him to build confidence and extract maximum performance when it mattered.
• Ferrari's Strong Showing: Charles Leclerc was hot on Alonso's heels, finishing just 0.150s behind. Lewis Hamilton, in the second Ferrari, secured fourth place, indicating Ferrari's strong potential for the weekend.
• Red Bull's Performance: Max Verstappen placed third, 0.276s off Alonso's pace. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, in ninth, did not run the latest Red Bull front wing seen on Verstappen's car, potentially accounting for some of the performance gap.
• McLaren's Mixed Bag: Oscar Piastri took fifth, despite battling understeer issues that required front-wing adjustments. Lando Norris rounded out the top six, 0.582s behind Alonso.
• Williams' Woes: Alex Albon's session was cut short due to a significant rear brake fire, leading to a 'no time' entry. The team confirmed a 'rear brake hardware problem' and aimed to have the car ready for FP2. Carlos Sainz, in the other Williams, managed to post the eighth-fastest time on medium tires.
• Mercedes' Quiet Start: Neither George Russell nor Kimi Antonelli ran the soft tire, resulting in them finishing outside the top 10. Mercedes is also trialing a new front wing design aimed at improving low-speed balance.
• Notable Rookie: Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) impressed by placing seventh, displacing Sainz's medium-tire lap.

The Big Picture:

The opening practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix has set an intriguing tone for the weekend. Alonso's unexpected P1 suggests that the notoriously challenging street circuit could favor teams that have optimized their cars for low-speed cornering and efficiency. Ferrari's consistent performance across both drivers also hints at their strong form. The reliability issue for Williams underscores the immense pressure on F1 teams to maintain peak mechanical integrity throughout the punishing F1 season.

What's next:

Teams will now analyze the data from FP1 to make crucial setup changes for FP2. Expect Red Bull and Mercedes to push harder, especially as Mercedes plans to fully assess their new front wing. The focus will be on resolving Albon's brake issue to ensure Williams can maximize their track time in the subsequent sessions. The true pecking order will begin to emerge in FP2 and FP3 as teams fine-tune their cars for qualifying.