No one has been better than the 23-year-old Australian over the last seven races, but McLaren has made clear it will prioritize the placement of Lando Norris down the home stretch.

Initially there were doubts about holding events in the evening, and on the streets of a city, but they faded quickly.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was quickest in first practice for the Singapore Grand Prix on Friday, less than a 10th of a second ahead of Lando Norris in a McLaren. Carlos Sainz, who won for Ferrari in Singapore a year ago, was third fastest with championship leader Max Verstappen fourth.