Renault Sport Formula One Team drivers Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer ended the first day of running for the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix race weekend with their best lap times a mere 0.005seconds apart. Both drivers completed full uninterrupted programmes on a warm and humid Marina Bay Street Circuit with both sessions taking place in the evening. Kevin was the quicker of the two with his 1min 47.161secs lap.

A straightforward day with both drivers completing their programmes as scheduled. Both Kevin and Jolyon used Pirelli's super soft tyres in the first session. In the second session both drivers used the super soft and ultra soft tyres.

Kevin Magnussen: "There were no issues today so we were able to do everything required. We look a little further up the order than last time out and certainly we want to get a bit more quicker tomorrow. It's certainly hot in the car but there were no surprises so we should be able to make good progress over the weekend."

Jolyon Palmer: "That was a pretty straightforward evening in the car and we've achieved everything we wanted today so that's a positive. You could definitely feel the grip level improving over the sessions and we have a pretty solid base set-up. It's certainly a pretty special lap around here"

Bob Bell, Chief Technical Officer: "We completed everything required today and have found a reasonable direction for the set-up. The second session was more about setting up the car for qualifying and the race, particularly to learn about the tyres, and we completed a good number of laps in this quest. The R.S.16 looks reasonably well balanced, albeit we have still a little work to do with the ride in relation to the many bumps on the circuit here."

Check out our Friday gallery from Singapore, here.