Hamilton and Vettel Dominate Singapore Practice

Image source: Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team

With the sun no longer beating down on track, F1 drivers emerged for the first session of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. Two 90-minute practice sessions gave drivers the chance to fine-tune their car's set-up and build up confidence around the modified circuit.

While you already know all there is to know about the famous street circuit, a new fact emerged from today's practice session; Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel are quite frankly masters of the Marina Bay Street Circuit. The two drivers - who are both past Singapore Grand Prix winners - topped one session apiece on Friday as they did two weeks earlier in Italy.

Image source: Getty Images

Hamilton was fastest in the first session. The Brit's best time of 1m47.055 was already faster than last year's pole position lap, largely thanks to the re-profiled turn 10 which gets rid of the clumsy triple apex 'Singapore Sling' chicane. Webber (who recently admitted his lack of motivation for F1) and Vettel finished in second and third, but were the only two drivers to get within one second of Hamilton. A number of drivers clipped the barriers and plenty of trips down the escape road were made.

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Vettel soon picked up the pace and topped the time sheets in second practice, which took place under star studded skies and the darkened backdrop of Singapore's skyline. The Red Bull driver dominated the session, finishing six tenths ahead of Webber. Rosberg and Hamilton finished over one second down on Vettel with Grosjean finishing the session in fifth, despite losing time thanks to a mechanical problem.

Alonso was closely matched by Button and Raikkonen in sixth, seventh and eighth, with Sutil and Perez completing the top 10. There were plenty of kisses with the Armco barriers during the second 90-minute session of the day but it was Pastor Maldonado who was the first to hit the wall after locking up into the turn 13 and dislodging his front wing.

With a large field spread in both practice sessions, here's hoping the margins close up in final practice and qualifying.