Last Updated on October 3 2025, 4:43 pm
Alonso shocks the grid in Singapore! The Marina Bay street circuit is usually a place of sweat for drivers, panic for engineers, and confusion for fans, who wonder if they are watching an actual race or an elaborate light show. However, during the first free practice session for the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso stole the spotlight with an unexpected lap time. The Aston Martin driver recorded the fastest time of 1:31.116 on soft tyres, leaving everyone else staring at the timing screens as though they had just seen Bigfoot.
The 43-year-old Spaniard has long made it clear that he isn’t here for a farewell tour. Former world champion Jenson Button, now employed to state the obvious on Sky Sports, quipped: “It’s not just because there’s not enough fuel in the tank; it’s also because of the Alonso factor.”
In other words, when Alonso is on form, he can still humiliate half the grid on a Thursday afternoon.
Aston Martin team boss Andy Cowell was quick to explain the feat: “Unlike in Baku, we can run the car lower here with more downforce. This suits the characteristics of our car better.”
He conveniently forgot, of course, that ‘our car’ is a phrase rarely applied to Alonso, who seems to push it beyond its design limits out of sheer stubbornness.
Ferrari and Red Bull line up behind:
Trailing Alonso, Charles Leclerc slotted his Ferrari into second place, just 0.150 seconds behind. Max Verstappen, who won in Baku and usually considers pole position his personal property, had to settle for third place in the Red Bull. Behind him came Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari, still trying to prove that the Prancing Horse isn’t just for show.
Championship leader Oscar Piastri ended the session in fifth place in his McLaren, immediately followed by his teammate and eternal rival Lando Norris. The McLaren garage probably had to separate them afterwards with the promise of extra ice cream.
Meanwhile, Mercedes continued their ongoing role as Formula 1’s comic relief. George Russell finished eleventh, just behind Nico Hülkenberg’s Sauber. For a team that once dominated the sport, Mercedes now seems to be auditioning for a comedy spin-off on Netflix.
Albon’s flaming Friday:
The most dramatic non-Alonso moment came courtesy of Alexander Albon. The Williams driver reported ‘fire’ over the radio on only his second lap and limped back to the pits.
His FW47 promptly obliged with a rear brake inferno, spewing smoke like a budget fireworks display. Albon jumped out while his mechanics scrambled with fire extinguishers that looked barely up to the task.
Button weighed in again from the commentary booth, speculating: “The braking system failed.” Thanks, Sherlock.
Williams later confirmed that it was a ‘hardware problem’, but chose not to elaborate, probably to avoid being asked how many spare fire extinguishers they travel with.
Piastri vs Hamilton, starring rear-view mirrors:
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri experienced his own frustrations towards the end of the session. After feeling obstructed by Hamilton, he delivered a deadpan radio barb: “I hope Ferrari invents rear-view mirrors one day.”
Given that Ferrari are still trying to develop a strategy, mirrors might indeed be a few years away.
Aston Martin made an unusual tyre call:
While most teams spent the session on hard tyres, Aston Martin went rogue by running medium compounds straight away. Team principal Andy Cowell defended the decision, saying: “We sent our drivers out on mediums right away so they could build up a rhythm. We’re also looking at different suspension heights. This will continue into the second practice session.”
Translation: Alonso demanded medium tyres, and no one tells Fernando no.
Technical updates in Singapore:
Red Bull and Mercedes brought new equipment to Singapore. Red Bull arrived with a modified front wing to increase downforce and a new engine cover with larger air outlets, which are essential in humid conditions where effective cooling can shave half a second off lap times.
Ever contrarian, Mercedes fitted a front wing designed for less downforce. Perhaps they’re hoping that reduced drag will finally help Russell reach the top ten again.
Practice one: take it with a pinch of salt:
It should be noted that the first free practice session in Singapore is less useful than a chocolate teapot. Held in daylight on a green track, it bears little resemblance to the qualifying conditions or the night race itself. Andy Cowell summed it up neatly: ‘This session is really just about understanding the car and the tyres.”
Therefore, Alonso’s headline-grabbing lap may become irrelevant once the floodlights are switched on and the track is rubbered in. For now, though, it’s yet another reminder that Fernando Alonso still knows how to take centre stage on a Friday. And in Formula 1, that’s sometimes half the fun.
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A senior writer at TJ13, C.J. Alderson serves as Senior Editor and newsroom coordinator, with a background in online sports reporting and motorsport magazine editing. Alderson’s professional training in media studies and experience managing content teams ensures TJ13 maintains consistency of voice and credibility. During race weekends, Alderson acts as desk lead, directing contributors and smoothing breaking stories for publication.
