Singapore – Free Practice 1: Ricciardo leads the discussions ahead of the Ferraris and the Mercedes

The first important information of the day comes from the Marina Bay circuit organization, which confirms that the Singapore Grand Prix will be on the calendar for four more years. Let’s remember that the neighboring Malaysia has decided to withdraw from the calendar after the edition which will take place in two weeks.

CONFIRMED 🇸🇬

We are delighted to announce a further four years of the #SingaporeGP #F1 #F1NightRace @F1NightRace pic.twitter.com/mvEXPQrQ0s

— Formula 1 (@F1) 15 septembre 2017

Some changes are noted in the single-seater cockpits: Carlos Sainz gives his place to Sean Gelael, and Kévin Magnussen gives his Haas to Antonio Giovinazzi. At the green light, the Ferraris, Saubers, and Toro Rossos hit the track, which is slightly damp in places due to overnight rain. Kimi Räikkönen, Stoffel Vandoorne, and Daniel Ricciardo are testing the Halo. Ferrari takes the opportunity to place a Pitot tube in the air intake above the driver’s head to measure the impact of the future protection system.

The first single-seater to start the timed run is the Mercedes marked with number 77, but Bottas makes a small mistake entering T1 and rides the curb of T2, causing the rear to slide out, his time is 1:48.770. Driving more smoothly, Hamilton completes a lap seven-tenths slower. No rush on the track in this first quarter-hour.

The best time remains the property of Valtteri Bottas with a 1:45.307. Images of Pérez and Ocon’s Force India cars show the radical nature of the aerodynamic elements specific to this track, with ridges on the shark fin, a three-tier T-Wing, and significant extensions of the rear wing’s vertical panels. These images give ideas to Mercedes, who propose a new name for Force India.

@ForceIndiaF1 The Stegosaurus name is sticking! 😜

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 15 septembre 2017

Last to record a time, Sebastian Vettel climbs to 6th place, 1.741 seconds behind his championship rival, who holds the best time at 1:44.236, before Max Verstappen takes it with a 1:44.058. In Bottas’s Mercedes garage, work is being done on the rear end due to admitted issues during acceleration for the Silver Arrow.

It seems that the Red Bull team decided to show off this Friday morning, as Ricciardo briefly held the best time, but Verstappen remains dominant. The Dutchman recorded a time of 1:43.218.

On the track, Lance Stroll reports an engine issue that forces him to return to the pits at a slow pace. Verstappen arrives too fast in the T1-T3 sequence and performs two well-controlled slides. Romain Grosjean loses his Haas while entering T16.

Standings at mid-session: Verstappen ahead of Bottas and Ricciardo, Vettel is 4th ahead of Hamilton. Following are Pérez, Hülkenberg, Kyvat, Ocon, and Räikkönen for the top 10. Beyond them are Massa, Alonso, Palmer, Vandoorne, Stroll while Grosjean, Giovinazzi, Gelael, Wehrlein, and Ericsson bring up the rear.

Well inspired with the ultra-softs, Hamilton recovers the best time with a 1:42.904. Bottas, also on track, has a few scares as he pushes his Mercedes.

With @LewisHamilton setting a 1m42.904s on ultrasoft now, we’re in the same territory as last year’s pole: 1m42.584s (from @nico_rosberg)

— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 15 septembre 2017

Things are evolving in midfield with Fernando Alonso in 6th position ahead of Hülkenberg and Vettel, while Vandoorne and Pérez complete the top 10. Palmer, Massa, Kvyat, Ocon, and Giovinazzi are in the top 15. At Williams, it is announced that there is a gearbox issue on Lance Stroll’s car.

At the start of the final third of the session, the Red Bulls once again show the most speed, Verstappen improves his time, but it’s Ricciardo who records the best time with a 1:42.489 and a new track record. On the radio, a certain Spaniard delivers a new shocking phrase directed at a certain Japanese engine manufacturer.

Oh Fernando…more radio gold

Sky Go: https://t.co/otdntdbR9f
Blog: https://t.co/QQfFLrQCKP #SkyF1 #SingaporeGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/p8MB5UMLoF

— Sky Sports F1 🏎 (@SkySportsF1) 15 septembre 2017

Sebastian Vettel jumps to 2nd place, providing some visibility for Ferrari after relative anonymity during these tests. Sergio Pérez mimics the German driver and climbs to 5th place.

Things seem complicated this Friday morning for Mercedes, as Bottas complains on the radio about a lack of grip on the rear end, while Lewis Hamilton misses the braking point at turn 14 and has to use reverse gear to exit the run-off area.

Five minutes before the end of the session, the track is crowded with 19 single-seaters. Vandoorne improves his best time but remains 11th, Grosjean inaugurates the mandatory run-off area at the chicane at the start of the lap and is also forced to go through the run-off area after a missed braking point at turn 18.

The final ranking of the first session

INITIAL CLASSIFICATION (END OF FP1): A successful opening session for @danielricciardo 💪#SingaporeGP 🇸🇬 #FP1 pic.twitter.com/dTuocQ12Bg

— Formula 1 (@F1) 15 septembre 2017