START your engines Formula One fans as the Singapore Grand Prix is making its long-awaited return.
Covid restrictions forced F1 chiefs to make a logistical decision in cancelling the 2021 race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.
But more than a year on, the race stakes are higher than ever as Max Verstappen could secure his second consecutive championship title.
- Qualifying: Saturday, October 1 – 2pm
- Race: Sunday, October 2 – 1pm
- Live stream: Sky Go
- TV channel: Sky Sports F1
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Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
Red Bull say talk of breaking budget cap is ‘speculation’
Red Bull say claims they broke F1’s budget cap last season are “speculation”.
It’s thought F1 chiefs could soon announce that Red Bull and Aston Martin surpassed the £114million limit in 2021.
But Red Bull principal Christian Horner told BBC Sport it was “purely speculation”.
And Mercedes chief Toto Wolff told the BBC: “The cost cap is probably the most important evolution of regulations to keep a level playing field to allow teams that haven’t got the full budget to catch up and to put a ceiling on the spending of the top teams.
“The FIA, particularly Mohammed [bin Sulayem, the president], has shown a pretty robust stance on enforcing all kinds of regulations. So if we are talking now about something big, he will show the same integrity and leadership that he has done before.”
Kravitz on Gasly incident
Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Ted Kravitz said: “Everything’s been sorted out.
“There’s been a bit of tape that’s been out over the fire damaged engine cover.
“The team are telling me the fire started when the fuel breather was connected to the car but it was put out quickly and then he’s going back out on the circuit.”
Credit: Splash Pierre Gasly latest
Pierre Gasly’s car dramatically CAUGHT FIRE with the Frenchman still in it during practice for the Singapore Grand Prix.
Flames shot out of the air vent after Gasly had driven his Alpha Tauri into the pits.
The 26-year-old quickly jumped up and out of the cockpit and thankfully emerged from the flames unscathed.
Quick thinking AlphaTauri mechanics acted fast to put out the flames with a fire extinguisher.
SAINZ TOPS FP2
Carlos Sainz clocked the fastest second practice time from early on in the session and nobody was able to beat it.
Sainz’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc had the second quickest time while Hamilton dropped down to fifth.
However, it was a session to forget for Max Verstappen, as his car troubles saw him finish outside the top three.
Make sure to stick with us tomorrow as we’ll have Practice Three from 11am.
Leaderboard update
Here is the current top ten in FP2 with only 10 minutes to go!
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
- Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)
- Fernando Alonso (Alpine)
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
It’s getting really fiery!
Yuki Tsundoa is completely out of the practice due to a fuel system error.
Lewis Hamilton ran wide but was fortunate enough to pull himself back on track.
And Pierre Gasly had to jump out of his car as flames began to shoot out of the air vent during a pit stop.
Fortunately, the Alpha Team are all unharmed.
Very bad for Verstappen
Max Verstappen is awaiting a front suspension change and it is having a really bad affect on his practice times.
Credit: Getty Mercedes are switching gears
The second Practice session is really heating up as Mercedes driver’s Lewis Hamilton and George Russell occupy 3rd and 4th spots.
Do they remember that it’s only practice and not the actual race?
Leclerc is BACK
Leclerc has flown onto the track and immediately set the second fastest lap time.
That makes it a Ferrari 1-2 on the leader boards at the moment as Sainz remains top.
Easing off the gas
Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton continue to set the pace in the second practice session.
While Max Verstappen ‘s quickest time is more than a second off the top two.
However, Verstappen’s woes don’t compare to Charles Leclerc as he STILL waiting to get out on the track.
Under the lights
Nothing special here apart from Lewis Hamilton racing ahead under the lights.
Credit: Getty That is in-Sainz
I spoke too soon, Carlos Sainz came back with a vengeance and now he has the quickest time to beat.
This is getting intense for a Practice Session.
Hamilton’s back with a bang
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is having a sensational practice session as he clocks the fastest time after lap one.
He is loving the Singapore circuit today, not even Max Verstappen can keep up with him.
More problems for Leclerc
The brake issues for Charles Leclerc have continued and as a result, the iconic racer is having to wait before heading out for FP2.
Ted Kravitz from the pitlane said:
There is some issue with the car, the floor is off, mechanics are climbing all over it.
“It makes me think they have had an issue and are only just putting the floor back on.
“It doesn’t look like he will be coming our for at least another five minutes.”
Welcome to Practice Session Two
Got your popcorn ready folks?
Good, because the drivers are back on the track and are gearing up for the second practice session.
Let’s see if Lewis Hamilton can top this one too.
Practice Two start time
Make sure to stay close as Practice Session two will get underway from 2pm BST.
And you can guarantee that there will be more drama.
FP1 final Classification
- HAM 1:43.033
- VER +0.084
- LEC +0.402
- PER +0.806
- RUS +1.033
- SAI +1.105
- OCO +1.703
- STR +2.188
- GAS +2.225
- ALO +2.303
- VET +2.321
- RIC +2.691
- BOT +2.692
- MAG +2.995
- TSU +3.048
- ALB +3.086
- ZHO +3.375
- MSC +3.568
- NOR +3.647
- LAT +4.059
HAMILTON TOPS PRACTICE SESSION ONE
Would you look at that?!
Lewis Hamilton tops the first practice session in Singapore ahead of Max Verstappen – who held the quickest time for so long.
And Charles Leclerc who also drove a very good race.
This is positive signs for Hamilton and Mercedes as he chases his first win of the season.
Fastest time on the circuit
Lewis Hamilton has come into his own after smashing Verstappen’s quickest time by just under a second.
Credit: AFP Hamilton smashes best lap time!
That’s more like it from Lewis Hamilton as he sets the fastest lap time in this morning’s Practice session.
The seven-time champion put in a time of 1.43.033 with a soft tyre.
Five minutes remaining people.
Close call from Carlos Sainz
Carlos Sainz is flying through the FP1 having completed 17 laps – the most on the circuit.
But the Ferrari driver was inches away from heading straight into the barrier on the final corner.
That would have been a disaster.
GREEN FLAG
The session is back underway with just a little over 13 minutes remaining of Practice One.
Birthday treats
Max Verstappen is having a superb Practice session – he is really enjoying racing on his birthday
Credit: Rex RED FLAG
Lance Stroll has misjudged his turn before worryingly colliding with the wall.
You could hear his team shout “stop the car! stop the car!” as he tried to continue driving round the track after.
The circuit has been temporarily paused.
Russell smashes the barriers
Lewis Hamilton’s teammate George Russell hit the barrier at turn 10 after losing control.
Thankfully, the Mercedes drive has come out of it unscathed but that will certainly damages his chances of any quick lap times.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
