Hello, welcome to our live blog from today’s race around the Marina Bay Circuit.
Tyers will be here at about 10.45am to bring you all of the build-up, but before it starts, have a read of our preview below…
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel will be braced for a Mercedes fight-back on Sunday as he bids to convert pole position to his fourth win in five years at the Singapore Grand Prix.
The four-time world champion put Mercedes in the shade with an emphatic qualifying win but he is taking nothing for granted after two seasons dominated by the German marque.
Vettel was more than half-a-second quicker than Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo in qualifying, with Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg way down in fifth and sixth.
Celebrations: Vettel was understandably delighted at breaking Hamilton’s run of poles
Hamilton is already in sight of his third world title but he missed out on a record-equalling eighth straight pole position as the Mercedes cars struggled for grip.
Overtaking is tough on the narrow, bumpy street circuit, one of Vettel’s favourite tracks where five of the seven races so far have been won from pole position.
But the German said it was too early to dismiss Mercedes, who had won 23 previous qualifying sessions stretching back to the Austrian Grand Prix in June last year.
Hamilton could only manage fifth on the Singapore grid
“They must have some issues, not feeling comfortable at all – it’s the only explanation I think. But I wouldn’t rule them out for tomorrow,” Vettel said on Saturday.
“It’s not the easiest circuit to overtake but if you have the pace eventually you come through, so I expect them to be strong tomorrow.”
Completing 61 laps of the tight street circuit in South east Asia’s heat and humidity presents a uniquely physical challenge to the drivers.
In each lap of 3.2 miles, they must wrestle their machines around 23 corners winding past landmarks of the wealthy ex-British colony.
“I think it’s crucial if you’re confident around the track,” Vettel said. “You need to be confident in your car.
“It is a street circuit and the better you feel, the closer you can get to the walls. It is a circuit where the driver can make a difference.”
Vettel has won twice so far this year, and is the only non-Mercedes driver to top the podium with Hamilton grabbing seven victories and Rosberg three.
But Mercedes have been off the pace in Singapore and Hamilton admitted he was up against it as he tries to match his idol Ayrton Senna’s career haul of 41 wins in 161 races.
“The goal’s to still win the race, but it’s very hard to overtake here and the others, particularly the Red Bulls, were incredibly quick through the long runs,” he told Sky Sports.
“It is what it is. We’ll fight as hard as we can but I doubt we’ll find something between now and tomorrow. But if we do, great.”
Smog from south east Asian forest fires has also been a problem this week, and fans and organisers will hope it stays away when the race gets under way at midday UK time.