Lewis Hamilton first flying lap was only good enough for P5 between the two Red Bulls.

We're still waiting for the Williams and Alpines to show us what they are made of in Q1.

There are no times on the board for the Mercedes pair but George Russell is lining up an attempt now. The Briton has shown decent pace this weekend and as he completes his lap, Russell becomes the new fastest driver with a 1:32.478.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Traffic will be key, we have also witnessed at the start of this session Max Verstappen leaving a very large gap to the car in front, unsure which car it was in front of him, but already they are trying to leave gaps to make sure they get that lap time in. One thing to note is that the (air) temperature is two degrees cooler and the track temperature is about 3-4 degrees cooler than when we had FP3.

The Ferrari of Charles Leclerc crosses the line and sorry, Lando, the Monegasque man is the new leader with a 1:32.523, just 0.033 seconds quicker than the McLaren.

Track temperature is about 35C now as all drivers who have come out early opt for the soft C5 tyres. Kevin Magnussen is the first man to bank a top time with a 1:33.300 but his Haas is sharply pushed down the order by Lando Norris and the two Red Bulls.

The McLaren is the quickest with a 1:32.556.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

(On Red Bull) This is it now there's no more work to be done in terms of tweaking the set-ups here and there, all they can do is try and make improvements in the driving to suit the car.

I'll let you into a little behind the scenes secret. Just before we started build-up, a bird flew into the building. It was only a little one, beginning with 'blue' and ending in a word I probably can't type on the page.

I'm 99% certain it's flown out to safety but as I have a huge phobia of birds, I'm on edge typing. I really hope this qualifying is exciting but the live text may go off the rails if it's an absolute box-office fight for pole.

Q1 is green.

Only the softest tyres in the Pirelli range will do for a night race at Marina Bay, with teams able to call upon the C3 (white, hard), C4 (yellow, medium) and C5 (red, soft).

With temperatures consistently high in Singapore, the risk of overheating those delicate compounds is increased at the longest race of the season.

Image source, Pirelli Motorsport

Max Verstappen told Sky Sports ahead of qualifying: "This weekend has been quite a struggle even in FP3 it was not very good, I think we got a little bit closer but I'm afraid it's not going to be enough to really be fighting for the top position, but we will give it a good go."

Image source, Getty Images

Red Bull can be crowned constructors' champions for the second year running this weekend, but a lot of stars have to align in order for it to happen.

The team can become 2023 champions if they seal a race one-two and Mercedes fail to score any points.

Red Bull can also triumph if Verstappen and Sergio Perez finish first and second, one of them picks up the extra point for fastest lap and the Silver Arrows score one point or less.

But will either Max or Checo even be able to claim pole today and provide the team with the best possible chance of securing that perfect race on Sunday?

Image source, Getty Images

New Zealander Liam Lawson gets another go at qualifying in the Alpha Tauri as he continues to cover for the injured Daniel Ricciardo, who broke his hand at the Dutch Grand Prix in August.

Lawson was 20th in his first session at Zandvoort when he was hastily brought in after Ricciardo’s practice crash then a week later at Monza, the 21-year-old qualified in 12th - one place behind team-mate Yuki Tsunoda and just over a tenth shy of the Japanese driver’s Q2 time.

Ricciardo posted an update this week to show his recovery progress and is here in a technical capacity this weekend, so can Lawson end his Formula 1 audition for a 2024 seat with an appearance in the top-10 shootout before the Australian returns?

Andrew Priestley: Is this FINALLY the 2023 race weekend where we see a different constructor race win?

C Wizzle: 1. Leclerc 2. Sainz 3. Verstappen

McLaren have brought their biggest upgrades since the Austrian Grand Prix in early July, with nine updates across the car for the Singapore Grand Prix.

Lando Norris has the full package on his car, while Oscar Piastri is running a few less than the Briton, but will be fully equipped for next week's Japanese Grand Prix.

Alpha Tauri have eight updates for the 15th race of the season, while Haas are the only team without a few teaks this weekend.

Image source, FIA

We’ll pause again over at Alpha Tauri until Daniel Ricciardo makes his comeback but looking at the qualifying stats so far, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton are neck and neck at Mercedes, while Alex Albon is thumping rookie Williams team-mate Logan Sargeant.

Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso 12-2 Lance Stroll

Haas

Nico Hulkenberg 11-3 Kevin Magnussen

Williams

Alex Albon 14-0 Logan Sargeant

Alpha Tauri

Yuki Tsunoda 1-1 Daniel Ricciardo

Mercedes

George Russell 7-7 Lewis Hamilton

Red Bull

Max Verstappen 12-2 Sergio Perez*

Ferrari

Charles Leclerc 8-6 Carlos Sainz

Alpine

Esteban Ocon 6-8 Pierre Gasly

McLaren

Lando Norris 11-3 Oscar Piastri

Alfa Romeo

Valtteri Bottas 9-5 Zhou Guanyu

*Sprint shootout qualifying results not included.

*Verstappen incurred five-place grand penalty at Belgium Grand Prix

Image source, Getty Images

When asked if pole position was possible on Ferrari’s home turf at Monza, Carlos Sainz replied: “Dreaming is for free, no?"

The Spaniard, who turned 29 during the Italian Grand Prix, beat Max Verstappen to the top spot in a Q3 session where pole changed hands three times in the final moments.

Sainz beat reigning world champion Verstappen by 0.013 seconds, with his team-mate Charles Leclerc finishing third just 0.054 seconds behind.

George Russell put his Mercedes fourth on the grid and Sergio Perez completed the top five in the other Red Bull.

Qualifying could be quick, very quick, at this year’s Singapore Grand Prix.

The track has undergone a temporary makeover because of redevelopment work taking place near the circuit, with the section between the old Turns 16 to 19 now becoming one long straight.

Charles Leclerc’s 2019 pole position time - which was achieved in dry conditions - was a 1:36.217, but race organisers think the 2023 pole marker could be even faster with the final sector changes.

Charles Leclerc deserved that big swig of water after a sweaty (and wet) qualifying session at Marina Bay.

The Ferrari driver was dominant when it came to qualifying last season and Singapore was the ninth time Leclerc had put his car on pole.

However, only two of those poles - Bahrain and Australia - were converted into race victories.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen was unable to put up a fight for pole position at a rainy Singapore in 2022 and conceded the front-row spot to Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari.

The Dutchman abandoned his penultimate lap after an error and then was told urgently to pit before finishing his final run because he was short of fuel.

Leclerc beat Sergio Perez by 0.022 seconds, with Lewis Hamilton bringing his Mercedes home in third.

Verstappen qualified in eighth place and while he had won from lower positions on the grid in previous races, he said Marina Bay’s similarities to Monaco meant he didn’t see “a podium or a win” on the cards at the following day’s grand prix.

"Me and all my friends in the tub," says Oscar Piastri on McLaren's social media video., external "It's chilly"

With the extreme heat and humidity, plunging into a deep ice bath must feel amazing?

"No, it's freezing," responds the 22-year-old. "I'm sure I'll be loving it in about five minutes when I get out!"

Frugal Nice Hulkenberg has been sitting in a shipping container for his cold comedown so Haas don't have to spend any money on an ice bath.

Image source, McLaren

Image source, Formula 1

Carlos Sainz, George Russell Russell and Lando Norris were the top three drivers in final practice but Max Verstappen found the hour a long slog, complaining on the team radio about upshifts snd downshifts and calling the situation "unacceptable".

His team-mate Sergio Perez didn't fare much better, highlighting his issues with oversteer before eventually finishing eighth.