The first free practice session (FP1) at the 2026 Formula 1® Singapore Grand Prix saw George Russell set the fastest time, while Max Verstappen impressed with his pace on medium tyres. The session took place during hot daytime conditions, which differ significantly from the night-time environment expected for qualifying and the race.
Russell topped the timesheets with a lap of 1m32.274s on soft tyres, marking a clear advantage over the rest of the field on that compound. Verstappen, meanwhile, was the quickest driver on medium tyres, posting a 1m33.006s lap that was around half a second faster than any other driver using the same tyre. Kimi Antonelli initially led the session on hard tyres before Russell’s soft-tyre effort put him ahead.
The session was held under a track temperature of 53°C, conditions that are not representative of the cooler, night-time setting for the main events. This means that the lap times and performance trends from FP1 should be viewed with caution when considering their relevance to qualifying and the race.
Aside from Russell and Verstappen, several midfield drivers showed competitive pace on medium tyres. Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson, and Oliver Bearman were among those posting notable times on this compound. Verstappen’s overall position was ninth on hard tyres, but his medium-tyre performance stood out clearly.
The session also featured some incidents, including a gearbox issue for Nico Hulkenberg that led to a virtual safety car period. Lance Stroll reported brake problems, which appeared to affect Aston Martin’s running during FP1. The Cadillac cars generally occupied the lower end of the timesheets.
Only five drivers ran on soft tyres during the session, with Russell’s time significantly quicker than the others on that tyre. This underlines the differing approaches teams took in managing tyre usage and gathering data under the unusual daytime heat.
While FP1 offered an early glimpse of pace, the unique conditions mean that teams and drivers will need to adapt as the weekend progresses towards qualifying and the night race. The session’s results provide useful information but are not necessarily indicative of the competitive order once the track cools and the sprint format begins.