Singapore Grand Prix 2026: Russell sets pace in practice
Mercedes driver George Russell leads Charles Leclerc in Singapore Grand Prix practice amid haze warnings from Indonesian wildfires.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Mercedes driver George Russell topped the timesheet in practice at the Singapore Grand Prix.
- Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished second, just 0.198 seconds off Russell's pace.
- Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton claimed the third and fourth positions respectively.
- Max Verstappen led the medium-tyre runners, ending the session in sixth place.
The Formula One weekend in Singapore kicked off with intense practice action as Mercedes driver George Russell set the benchmark by leading the timesheet ahead of his rivals.
A late flying lap from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc brought him within 0.198 seconds of Russell, successfully splitting what had previously been an all-British top three.
McLaren's Lando Norris secured third place, finishing 0.273 seconds behind the leader, while Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top four for Ferrari, 0.499 seconds off the pace. The top five drivers, including McLaren's Oscar Piastri, all set their fastest times using soft-compound tyres.
Red Bull's four-time champion Max Verstappen was the fastest driver among those running on medium tyres, finishing sixth overall, 0.732 seconds off the pace and 0.519 seconds ahead of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Evaluating relative team performance during this practice session proved exceptionally challenging due to split strategies between soft and medium tyre compounds. Additionally, the unique street circuit layout in Marina Bay faces supplementary pressure from regional environmental factors impacting air quality.
Russell faces a difficult weekend ahead, as he is set to start Sunday's race from the back of the grid due to engine component penalties following a failure in Malaysia. Mercedes has also split car specifications between their drivers, reverting Russell to an older spec while Antonelli runs a new aerodynamic upgrade package.
Outside the cockpit, competitors and attendees are navigating air-quality warnings in Singapore caused by transboundary haze from Indonesian wildfires, driven by illegal land-clearing practices that have pushed pollution to record highs.
Source: BBC Sport
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