16/09/2016
NEWS STORY
Early days, but this morning's session has certainly whetted the appetite.
While Max Verstappen led a Red Bull 1-2, with Sebastian third quickest, it should be noted that the best time posted by the Mercedes duo, who finished fourth and fifth, was on soft as opposed to ultrasofts.
To add a little more spice, Rosberg crashed in the final stages of the session, taking off his front wing in an incident which has yet to be explained.
Behind the Red Bulls, Ferraris and Mercedes came the Toro Rosso duo, the Faenza outfit, celebrating its 200th Grand Prix this weekend, running Sainz and Kvyat in back-to-back tests, the Spaniard with the new aero package and his Russian teammate the old.
Williams continued its tradition of using Friday for practice, while Haas only had one car in action, Grosjean sidelined by an air intake issue.
Alonso, trying the Halo for the first time, was just outside the top ten, while teammate Button, who was able to continue despite an early technical glitch which left him stranded on track.
As ever, Force India is playing the long game, both drivers sticking to the soft tyre for the entire session.
Renault, Sauber and Manor were all well off the pace, all three reliant on Singapore producing a few of its usual surprises over the next couple of days.
Ahead of today's second session, which gets underway at 21:30 (local time), the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 33 degrees.
The lights go green and Wehrlein leads the way, followed by Gutierrez and Ocon. Vettel is another early riser, as is Rosberg.
Wehrlein gets proceedings underway with a 51.707, but this is quickly beaten by Ocon and then Gutierrez (48.700).
Going purple in all three sectors, as you'd expect, Vettel posts 47.475 to go quickest, the German running wide in the final corner.
Moments later teammate Raikkonen posts 46.167 however, the Finn is on supersofts whilst Vettel was on the softs.
Button (supers) goes third but is instantly demoted when Rosberg (softs) posts 46.990.
The Toro Rosso duo are at it again, Kvyat goes second (46.909) to go second while Sainz goes third with a 46.924.
Alonso is the latest driver to kiss the barriers at T10, the damage to the advertising hoarding suggesting it was quite passionate.
Hamilton (supers) goes quickest in all three sectors to post 45.275, but Ricciardo is already on a hot lap. He loses a little pace in S2, finally crossing the line at 45.620 to take second, 0.345s down on the Briton.
"Track evolution is always a big factor here," confirms Pirelli, "so watch for the times getting quicker and quicker as session goes on."
Sainz has a moment at T10, but somehow manages to give the barrier the very lightest of touches. This corner, along with 21 and 22, is catching out a lot of drivers today.
Ricciardo spins at T11 but somehow keep it out of the barriers. Meanwhile, teammate Verstappen improves to third (46.028).
"Traction and braking are the key aspects here with 23 corners," says Pirelli. "So drivers must be careful not to overheat tyres: the ultrasoft especially."
Ocon is the first driver to try the ultras and it isn't long before he regrets the move, the Frenchman clouts the barrier at T19 then T21 for good measure.
"I hit two times the wall," admits the Manor driver. Asked if the car has been affected he replies: "No problem".
Despite Ocon's trials and tribulations, more and more drivers switch to the ultras.
Vettel, on the ultras, goes quickest in S1. He loses pace in S2, finally crossing the line at 45.266 to go quickest.
As Hamilton complains of a "lot of heat in the right hand side of the cockpit," Raikkonen looks set to improve. Sure enough, the Finn posts 44.427 to take the top spot but moments later Rosberg bangs in a 44.152.
Hamilton runs wide in T2, thereby ruining his lap.
On the ultras, Hulkenberg posts 45.182 to go fourth. Teammate Perez, who is still on softs, is currently eighth (46.444).
On the ultras Verstappen can only manage third (44.532).
As we await Ricciardo to try the ultras, Alonso is out on softs.
Nasr takes full advantage of the escape road at T14 after making mistake.
Talking of mistakes, Hamilton is having a nightmare having gone wide at a number of corners and thereby spoiling a number of laps.
Check out our Friday gallery from Singapore, here.
Verstappen goes quickest in S2, but he cannot maintain the pace and therefore fails to improve.
As Ricciardo heads out on the ultras, Kvyat posts PBs in the first two sectors before having to back off when the yellows are waved.
The reason for the yellows is revealed to be Grosjean who spins at T23 and hit the wall backwards, destroying his rear wing in the process.
On the ultras, Alonso posts 45.779 to go ninth.
Ricciardo can only manage a PB in S1 however in S2 he goes quickest. At the line the Australian posts 44.557 to go fourth.
"Something is not going right," complains Grosjean as he heads back to the pits. "It is pointed out that much of his rear wing is missing following his clash with the barriers. The Frenchman disagrees, claiming the damage to his wing is the result of the issue not the cause.
At 'half-time', it's: Rosberg, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Sainz, Alonso and Kvyat.
In the Haas garage, Grosjean is getting a new rear wing and new floor. This coming after the Frenchman missed most of FP1.
Vettel complains that a Velcro fastening has come loose and asks if he can re-attach it himself. "I can do it, but it's difficult to look down," he says. He heads down the pitlane and makes the necessary adjustment before rejoining the track.
"The pattern of track evolution at night is somewhat different to what we see during the day," says Pirelli. "So this is a focus of data analysis in FP2."
Still early days, as we said earlier, but there's a lot of work going on in the Mercedes garage on Hamilton's car. Consequently, the world champion is missing out on the long run programme.
Indeed, the Briton climbs from his car which is raised on its stand. Elsewhere, Haas reveals that Grosjean's session is done, the Frenchman's car having suffered suspension damage.
"Lewis out of the car for now while small hydraulic issue being investigated," reveals Mercedes.
Vettel is another to take advantage of the escape road as he pushes just a little too hard on his soft tyres.
As Ricciardo sets an impressive pace on his long run, the cameras pick up on Niki Lauda looking thoroughly miffed at the back of the Mercedes garage. Indeed, the demeanour of the crew, including engine boss Andy Cowell, suggest that Hamilton's session is done.
When Ricciardo complains about the driver ahead, "coming out of the pits, using the DRS and doing all sorts", he is told: "You have to remember that this is Nasr", suggesting that Red Bull does not hold the Brazilian in high esteem. Even less so now.
As Verstappen also suffers with traffic - not uncommon on a street circuit - he is advised that his teammate is reporting "low deg".
"Track evolution from Friday to Saturday was actually over four seconds last year," says Pirelli, "expect the quickest times to come tomorrow."
As we were saying... Verstappen complains about traffic again. "It's a street circuit mate," he is told, "deal with it!"
Told to adhere to the brake temperature warnings, Rosberg replies: "It looks to me like it's terminal, what can we do about it?"
The session ends, and it's mixed fortunes for Mercedes, while Ricciardo appears to have the best long run pace, with Ferrari also looking good.
Toto Wolff believes Hamilton suffered a "hydraulic leak", adding that it should - note should - be OK tomorrow.
Alonso stops at T16, McLaren bookending today's session with issues for its drivers. Replay shows 'anti stall' flashing on the Spaniard's dash.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Raikkonen, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Sainz, Alonso and Kvyat.
Perez is eleventh, ahead of Button, Gutierrez, Massa, Bottas, Magnussen, Palmer, Nasr, Grosjean, Ericsson, Wehrlein and Ocon.
Check out our Friday gallery from Singapore, here.