Verstappen fastest in first practice for Singapore GP

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen posted the fastest time in Friday's first practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix.

Verstappen was 0.167 seconds quicker than Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel while championship leader Lewis Hamilton was third fastest.

Mercedes driver Hamilton heads into Sunday's night race with a 63-point lead over teammate Valtteri Bottas, who was fourth fastest.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands chats with his crew member during the first practice session at the Marina Bay City Circuit ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoVincent Thian)

Bottas hit the wall at the exit of Turn 19, bringing out the red flag with 25 minutes left in the session.

The 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) Marina Bay street circuit is one of the hardest tracks for overtaking in F1, so whoever takes pole on Saturday will have the upper hand. The driver leading the field has won eight times in the past 10 years.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who won the previous two races, had problems shifting gears through Turns 18 and 19. He was able to coast back to the pit lane — where his car was retrieved by Ferrari mechanics — but did not return to the track and finished 19th.

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland steers his car out of the pit-lane during the first practice session at the Marina Bay City Circuit ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoVincent Thian)

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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain pulls out of his garage during the first practice session at the Marina Bay City Circuit ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoVincent Thian)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain pulls out of his garage during the first practice session at the Marina Bay City Circuit ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoVincent Thian)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the first practice session at the Marina Bay City Circuit ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoVincent Thian)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain prepares for the first practice session at the Marina Bay City Circuit ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoVincent Thian)

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain pulls out of his garage during the first practice session at the Marina Bay City Circuit ahead of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP PhotoVincent Thian)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A race car veered off the track during a competition in Sri Lanka on Sunday and rammed into a crowd of spectators and race officials, killing seven people and injuring 20 others, officials said.

Thousands of spectators looked on as the mishap took place during a race in the town of Diyatalawa in the tea-growing central hills, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) east of the capital Colombo.

It wasn't immediately clear what caused the mishap.

Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said one of the cars veered off the track and crashed into spectators and officials of the event. Seven people, including four officials, were killed and another 20 were being treated at a hospital, said Thalduwa. He said three of the injured were in critical condition.

Thalduwa said police have launched an investigation into the accident, which was the 17th out of 24 events scheduled. The race was suspended after the accident.

About 45,000 spectators had gathered at the race circuit at a Sri Lankan military academy. The event was organized by the Sri Lankan army and Sri Lanka Automobile Sports.

People attend to the injured after a racing car crashed into the spectators during the Fox Hill Supercross, a motor racing event organized by the Sri Lanka's army, in Diyatalawa, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/STR)

People gather around a car that had crashed into the spectators during the Fox Hill Supercross, a motor racing event organized by the Sri Lanka's army, in Diyatalawa, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/STR)