Lizard Disrupts Final Practice at Singapore Grand Prix

A monitor lizard interrupted the final practice session for the Singapore Grand Prix, amusing drivers and temporarily halting the proceedings. The lizard, familiar to the area, dashed across the track, leading to a brief pause in the session before practice resumed.

A large lizard on track halted final practice for the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, as Formula One marshals scrambled to catch the rogue reptile. Drivers watched in amusement as the monitor lizard, a familiar sight in Singapore, responded to the chase with a sudden burst of speed after sauntering onto the circuit shortly after the daylight session started.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso, with teammate Lance Stroll the only drivers on track at that time, was alerted to the lizard's presence in the final sector. "We are told the track is clear but just have a look for the lizard," the Spaniard was informed over the team radio.

"No, it's in the middle of the track," the double world champion retorted as he carefully drove around the creature and returned to the pit lane. Sky television commentator David Croft whimsically named the lizard Larry, likening its purposeful stride to that of Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll.

The interruption was short-lived and practice soon resumed. Lizards are a regular occurrence at the grand prix, with Max Verstappen's Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase famously naming a particularly large one "Godzilla" in 2016.

When a smaller lizard appeared during last year's practice, Lambiase joked that "maybe Godzilla had a kid." According to Singapore's National Parks' Board, monitor lizards are typically shy unless cornered, and are diurnal, providing some relief for organizers of the night race. (Alan Baldwin, London; Edited by Hugh Lawson)

(With inputs from agencies.)