Source: Official Team Post via X
Russell Leads Singapore GP Practice as Mercedes Tests Different Wings
George Russell set the fastest time in Singapore GP practice, using Mercedes' older wing spec. He topped the charts ahead of Charles Leclerc, while Mercedes tested a new wing on Kimi Antonelli's car.
In the sweltering heat and humidity of Singapore, George Russell led the way in Friday's only practice session for the Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver clocked a time of 1:32.274, a comfortable two-tenths ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, while running the team's older-spec front wing. Russell's lap came on the soft Pirelli tires, contrasting with his teammate Kimi Antonelli, who was 1.251 seconds slower on mediums while using Mercedes' new wing design.
The session kicked off with Alpine's Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly taking to the track first. With just one practice session on the calendar for the weekend, it was a frantic start as teams scrambled to optimize their setups ahead of Sprint qualifying. Colapinto initially set a time of 1:41.011, soon eclipsed by Max Verstappen's 1:35.641, placing him comfortably ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
The session was not without its hiccups, with Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli both having lap times deleted for exceeding track limits. Turn 11 proved a challenging spot, catching out several drivers, including Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso.
As the session progressed, Leclerc, Russell, and Norris took turns topping the leaderboard. Leclerc's 1:33.969 was the benchmark until he pitted after a nine-lap run. Antonelli briefly went fastest with a 1:33.830, but Russell reclaimed the top spot with three purple sectors on soft tires.
Mercedes wasn't the only team experimenting with aerodynamics; Red Bull's Isack Hadjar tested a revised front wing, making his way to fourth. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll was left grumbling about brake issues, finishing 18th.
Nico Hulkenberg's session ended abruptly with a gearbox problem in his Audi, leaving him stranded just outside the pit lane.
As the clock ticked down, drivers switched between medium and soft tires for their final runs. Russell's pace on the softs proved unbeatable. Leclerc edged out Norris for second, with Verstappen the fastest of those on medium tires, finishing sixth.
The top ten concluded with Russell leading Leclerc and Norris, followed by Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, Pierre Gasly, and Liam Lawson.