Raikkonen pips Hamilton in Singapore practice

Kimi Raikkonen ended the opening day’s running for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix fastest after the second 90 minute practice session around Marina Bay.

Raikkonen pipped Hamilton, the pair demoting Daniel Ricciardo who had been quickest in Practice 1.

The Ferrari and Mercedes duo were split by just 0.011s in Practice 2, having both used a set of hard compound Pirelli tyres to set their best laps as Ricciardo fell to fourth.

It was one spot behind Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen, more than half a second off the pace of Raikkonen.

A tag with the wall exiting the penultimate corner for Sebastian Vettel saw the German end his session in the garage.

Midway through Practice 2 Vettel ran wide exiting the 90 degree left-hander, brushing the wall with the face of both right side tyres.

He immediately took to the lane where his car leaked coolant, climbing out of the Ferrari and sitting out the balance of the session to end it ninth fastest.

Earlier, Vettel and Hamilton narrowly avoided contact when the world championship leader locked his brakes, just missing the back of Vettel’s Ferrari as he skated into the run off at Turn 8.

Verstappen reported an oil leak which Red Bull was able to quickly rectify, though the Dutch youngster also complained of a hesitation from his Renault engine throughout Practice 2.

Lance Stroll suffered a fire in his right rear brakes after a visor tear off found its way into the brake ducting, though the Canadian was able to get the car back to the garage where Williams set about fixing the issue.

Opening practice ended with Charles Leclerc brushing the wall on the approach to Turn 13, plucking the right front wheel off the Sauber.

The incident occurred as Leclerc shaped up to turn into the left hander, the car brushing the outcropping wall as the road bends to the right off the Anderson Bridge.

It had little impact though as the Monegasque driver parked the car as the chequered flag flew to end the session.

Practice 1 did prove the slower of the day’s running, with times more than a second off what Raikkonen managed in Practice 2 – Ricciardo’s best a 1:39.711 versus Raikkonen’s 1:38.699.

Valtteri Bottas was fifth fastest in Practice 2 ahead of Carlos Sainz and Romain Grosjean in the leading Haas.

Fernando Alonso banked the eighth best time ahead of the compromised Vettel, who didn’t manage a race simulation, and Nico Hulkenberg rounding out the top 10 for Renault.

Practice in Singapore continues with a final 60 minute session on Saturday at 2000 AEST prior to qualifying at 2300.

Results: Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, Practice 2

Results: Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, Practice 1