Fernando Alonso Dominates Opening Practice at Thrilling Singapore Grand Prix 2025

Fernando Alonso delivered a masterclass performance under the iconic floodlights of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, setting the fastest time in the opening free practice session of the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix. The Aston Martin veteran, renowned for his strategic brilliance and raw speed, left his competitors chasing in his wake, hinting at a potentially strong weekend for the Silverstone-based squad.

Hot on his heels were the formidable Ferrari duo, with Carlos Sainz Jr.

securing an impressive second place, just a tenth of a second shy of Alonso's benchmark. Teammate Charles Leclerc was not far behind, claiming third position, underlining the Scuderia's strong intent for the notoriously challenging street circuit. Their consistent pace suggests Ferrari will be a major contender as the weekend progresses.

In contrast, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team found themselves further down the pecking order in this initial session.

Lewis Hamilton finished in fifth, while George Russell languished in ninth. While FP1 is often about data gathering rather than outright pace, their early struggles will undoubtedly be a point of discussion within the Brackley garage. Similarly, reigning champions Red Bull Racing, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, didn't dominate as expected.

Verstappen secured fourth place, with Perez settling for seventh, both seemingly focusing on understanding the car's setup on a track known for its unique demands.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris slotted into sixth and tenth positions respectively, indicating a solid, if not spectacular, start for the Woking outfit.

Other notable performances included Liam Lawson, impressing in the RB machine, and Nico Hulkenberg's strong showing for Haas.

The session unfolded under typically hot and humid Singapore conditions, with track temperatures hovering around 31 degrees Celsius. These challenging elements push both car and driver to their limits.

Teams primarily used this hour-long session to gather crucial data on tire degradation, cooling, and car balance, experimenting with various setups to adapt to the tight, twisty layout of Marina Bay.

While the session was largely uneventful in terms of major incidents, there were a few moments of note.

Lewis Hamilton had a slight run-off at Turn 16, and Max Verstappen reported some minor issues with his Red Bull. These early observations will be critical for engineers as they fine-tune their machines ahead of FP2, where teams typically push harder for performance.

As the teams prepare for the next session, the initial advantage lies with Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin, offering a tantalizing prospect for the weekend.

The Marina Bay Street Circuit always delivers drama, and the opening practice has certainly set the stage for an enthralling Singapore Grand Prix 2025.