Leclerc shades Norris in Singapore first practice as Verstappen encouraged

Charles Leclerc narrowly pipped Lando Norris to the fastest-time in the opening free practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix.

In dusty and non-representative track conditions, Leclerc shaded Norris by less than a tenth of a second to take the honours in the first 60 minutes of practice, with Max Verstappen an encouraging fourth for Red Bull and within striking range.

Carlos Sainz was third in the sister Ferrari as RB impressed with Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo splitting Oscar Piastri in the second McLaren in fifth-sixth-seventh, as Lewis Hamilton was a lowly 12th for Mercedes.

The returning Kevin Magnussen took 17th for Haas.