Charles Leclerc crashes as Red Bull dominate Singapore GP first practice

You can’t do that at Ferrari! Maranello bound Charles Leclerc crashes in Singapore GP first practice as Daniel Ricciardo leads Red Bull one-two

• Daniel Ricciardo was two tenths quicker than Max Verstappen at Marina Bay
• Red Bull duo were narrowly faster than Sebastian Vettel who was third
• Lewis Hamilton was down in sixth with team-mate Valtteri Bottas in eighth
• Mercedes focused on longer runs though during the early evening session
• READ: All the latest F1 news, features and points tables 

By Dan Ripley for MailOnline

Published: 11:04 BST, 14 September 2018 | Updated: 13:01 BST, 14 September 2018

Red Bull overshadowed the main title rivals at Mercedes and Ferrari after Daniel Ricciardo headed a one-two in first practice for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. 

The Australian posted a 1:39.711 – two tenths quicker than Max Verstappen – to go fastest at Marina Bay in an early evening session that saw Charles Leclerc crash out.

In his first session since his confirmed move to Ferrari, Leclerc made the biggest error in first practice. 

Daniel Ricciardo was fastest for Red Bull in first practice for the Singapore Grand Prix

Ricciardo’s early pace suggests Red Bull could be contenders for victory this weekend

The Sauber driver clipped a wall during a lap, severely damaging the right front wheel as he came to a halt in a run off section away from the track on his way to ninth. 

Sebastain Vettel was just a fraction slower than Verstappen in third while championship leader Lewis Hamilton was sixth fastest for Mercedes.

Hamilton goes into the weekend 30 points in front of Vettel after taking a stunning victory at the Italian Grand Prix last time out. 

Charles Leclerc damaged his right front wheel after crashing into a wall during the session

The Sauber driver was able to drive the car off the circuit and into an escape road

Leclerc’s crash comes just days after his confirmed announcement to join Ferrari next season

SINGAPORE GP FIRST PRACTICE 

1 Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:39.711s

2 Verstappen (Hol) Red Bull 1:39.912

3 Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:39.997

4 Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:40.486

5 Hulkenburg (Ger) Renault 1:41.105

6 Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes 1:41.232

7 Sainz (Spa) Renault 1:41.329

8 Bottas (Fin) Mercedes 1:41.429

9 Leclerc (Mon) Sauber 1:42.035

10 Grosjean (Fra) Haas 1:42.108

11 Ericsson (Swe) Sauber 1:42.408

12 Perez (Mex) Force India 1:42.412

13 Magnussen (Den) Haas 1:42.452

14 Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:42.630

15 Ocon (Fra) Force India 1:43.177

16 Gasly (Fra) Toro Rosso 1:43.240

17 Hartley (Nzl) Toro Rosso 1:43.485

18 Stroll (Can) Williams 1:43.849

19 Sirotkin (Rus) Williams 1:44.036,

20 Vandoorne (Bel) McLaren 1:45.160

But despite finishing well off the pace in the early evening session – 1.5 seconds slower than Ricciardo – there was little concern from Mercedes.

Valtteri Bottas was also a lowly eighth but the Silver Arrows opted not to run the quicker hyper soft tyres their rivals did, opting instead to focus on long runs in preparation for the race.

Ferrari only ran the hyper soft tyre with Kimi Raikkonen five tenths down on Vettel to complete the session fourth quickest. 

Lewis Hamilton was down in sixth as Mercedes decided to focus on longer runs

Sebastian Vettel was third fastest for Ferrari in the first practice session at Marina Bay

Raikkonen will leave the team at the end of the season, making way for the highly promising Leclerc. 

Renault’s pace looked promising as Hamilton was caught sandwiched between fifth place Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz, while Romain Grosjean’s Haas rounded off the top 10.

Fernando Alonso was the fastest McLaren down in 14th. The two Williams led by Lance Stroll were only kept off the bottom by Alonso’s team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne.

Fernando Alonso was the quickest of the McLaren drivers ending the session 14th

The first practice session was held in the early evening at Marina Bay ahead of the night race

Vettel tours the street circuit on a weekend he will be desperate to kick start his title bid

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