SINGAPORE, Sept 26: McLaren’s championship leader Lewis Hamilton lapped quickest under the floodlights in first free practice for Formula One’s inaugural night race in Singapore on Friday.

With drivers getting their first full-speed look at the city-state’s street circuit, Hamilton outpaced the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen with McLaren team mate Heikki Kovalainen fourth fastest.

Storms had lashed Singapore in the early hours, raising concerns about the perilous combination of rain, floodlights and an untested circuit.

However the skies were clear when Italian Giancarlo Fisichella steered his Force India car out of the pitlane to start practice for Asia’s first street race.

Against the backdrop of Singapore’s stunning skyline, the skyscrapers framed by 1,600 light projectors along a track that winds through the business district and marina area, Hamilton posted a time of one minute 45.518 seconds around the 5.067km track.Brazilian Massa, a point behind Hamilton in the championship standings, was 0.080 slower.

Mishaps and misjudgements on an unfamiliar circuit were inevitable.

Australian Mark Webber became the circuit’s first casualty, his Red Bull ploughing into the barriers at the sharp lefthanded turn 18. Webber walked away unharmed and stood impassively as his car was hauled off the track by a crane.—Reuters