🔗 Share this article Aston Martin's Alonso Leads Opening Session at Singapore Grand Prix Marina Bay Street Circuit Race weekend features the race beginning at 1pm BST on Sunday. Real-time coverage provided on digital platforms and BBC Sport. Practice Session Highlights Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fastest ahead of Scuderia star and Red Bull's Max Verstappen during the opening session at the street circuit event. The British team's title rivals Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished the practice in P5 and P6. Piastri was 0.217 seconds speedier than Norris. Alonso was 0.150secs ahead of the Ferrari driver and 0.276secs clear than the Red Bull star. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was P4. Team Strategies Few anticipate that Aston Martin will be contenders for pole position. Nonetheless, the team are confident of a improved performance on a tight circuit that is better matched to their chassis, which performs better when high levels of aerodynamic grip are called for. Veteran racer Alonso is also famous as a street circuit master, and usually excels on the Singapore circuit. Yet he was likely using reduced weight or a increased power than his competitors, or each, to post the fastest lap. Session Details Fellow driver Lance Stroll was 1.918secs behind in P18. The Canadian had problems with his driving position during the initial runs and was also running new components. The first session in Marina Bay is not representative of conditions later in the weekend as it is conducted in daylight in the daytime, while qualifying and the main event are run after dark. Points Situation Piastri leads his teammate by a quarter-century with the final stretch ahead entering the Grand Prix in Singapore. McLaren are in position to wrap up the manufacturers' crown on race day. The only way they can fail to secure it in Singapore is if the Silver Arrows beat them by thirty-one or Ferrari achieve that by 35. Competitor Outlook Red Bull are optimistic of a good performance after recent successes in Monza and Baku preceding this Grand Prix. It was a relief when precipitation coming down ahead of FP1 stopped by the point the vehicles took to the track on a surface that had remained dry. Senior figure Red Bull's advisor stated before the session that they required a clear session to get underway on understanding their chassis settings for the event.