Yellow flagpublished at 14:18 British Summer Time 17 September 2023

14:18 BST 17 September 2023

Lap 44/62

The pit lane is getting ready. Virtual safety car is deployed.

George Russell has to push Carlos Sainz hard noe as Lando Norris is within DRS range of the Mercedes.

Esteban Ocon has stopped near the exit of the pit lane "Noooo! NOOOO!" cries the frenchman.

Liam Lawson is back where he started! The Alpha Tauri man moves up to 10th place.

Out in front, Carlos Sainz is eight tenths ahead of George Russell and Lando Norris is still within the pack in third place.

Fernando Alonso has given his verdict on the Aston Martin tonight. It's undriveable, says the Spaniard.

Sergio Perez has come out down in the dumps in 18th place. Here comes Max Verstappen, tyres are changed to medium and he rejoins the track in P15.

Matthew Murnaghan: Taking Red Bull out of the equation makes every race better. I remember back in 2021 where Verstappen and Hamilton collided, we had a different winner in Daniel Ricciardo.

Jeremiah Kariuki: This is unbelievable that Perez is holding other cars, fighting to stay ahead. There is also that feeling, may be, the Red Bull of Verstappen will come to live and start overtaking everyone! But the reality, we have others faster than them.

Here comes Sergio Perez for a pit stop. Worn-out hard tyres are swapped for the medium compound.

Esteban Ocon is trying to do what Fernando Alonso couldn't. The Alpine is on the charge and goes on the attack on Sergio Perez. The Mexican is put under pressure by the Frenchman and is forced to defend but it's no use, Ocon smoothly makes the move and snatches seventh spot away from Perez.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That was brave stuff from the birthday boy Esteban Ocon there, held it round the outside, took full advantage and now that brings the other Alpine of Pierre Gasly into play. Remember, Alonso does have that 5-second penalty so that will put him down the order anyway but he put up a very good fight.

Can George Russell take victory here at Marina Bay? It'll be tough, as Carlos Sainz reckons he's got pace to spare in his Ferrari back pocket.

The fight between Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon reaches fever pitch. The Aston Martin driver tries to pass the Red Bull of Perez but that opens the door for birthday boy Ocon. Perez stays in seventh, Alonso is down to ninth and Ocon is now eighth.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

This is what happens when you take Red Bull and Max Verstappen out of it, we've been saying it all season long, it would be a cracker of a season, it has been a cracker of a season when you look at the battle for second. But we are now seeing what it would be like if Verstappen and Perez and Red Bull weren't as dominant.

Kevin Magnussen is tumbling down the order. The Haas driver twitches and runs wide, allowing a gaggle of cars to pass. The Dane is now P16.

Image source, Getty Images

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

We are half-way through this Singapore Grand Prix now which has really been a fascinating one from a strategy perspective. It's been a bit like a chess game. A safety car intervention has really spiced things up.

The Aston Martin is keeping a close eye on the Red Bull of Sergio Perez. The Mexican is still on his starting hard tyres and is in danger of being bumped down the pack by the Spanish tow-time world champion.

Pierre Gasly and Kevin Magnussen are battling at Turn Seven. The two come close and Gasly quickly hands the place back to the Danish driver.

Who will win the Singapore Grand Prix?

Left thumb for Sainz.

Right thumb for Russell.

Another question: Will Kevin Magnussen stay in the points? Pierre Gasly wants something to show for his sweaty day in the cockpit and is hunting the Haas down for 10th place.

"I wanna go for this win."

Behind the slippy Red Bull of Max Verstappen is team-mate Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon and the Haas of Kevin Magnussen completing the top 10.

George Russell in second wants to go for this win. His engineer tells him they're all on the same page.

Max Verstapen is like Bambi on ice on those hard tyres. His Red Bull needs an injection of pace as he continues his race stuck in sixth place.

Top five is still Carlos Sainz, George Russell, Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton but the gap between the drivers is not as big as we have seen in previous races. These four are separated only by two seconds.

George Russell is told to look after his tyres but the Briton says, "nah, these hards can go to the end of the race comfortably'.