2012 Singapore Grand Prix The Singapore Grand Prix

There are five minutes remaining until the formation lap begins for our sport's only night race on the calendar.

Only a single DRS zone at this twisty street circuit with the wing of the chasing car allowed to open on the stretch between Turns 5 and 7.

Tyres

Pirelli's stickiest rubber - the supersoft and soft compounds - is in action for this street event, with the former providing a significant flying lap margin in qualifying.

Durability is a concern for race strategists, with a two stop plan looking like the ideal way to complete the race if the drivers can conserve rubber and take advantage of any safety car intervention.

Early stops can be expected for the Q3 drivers starting on supersofts, while those further down the grid may take advantage of a free rubber choice to start on the soft compound and run longer in the early stages.

Both Mercedes drivers opted out of a final qualifying attempt, allowing both Schumacher and Rosberg the chance to try some creative strategy from ninth and 10th on the grid in the revised car.

Singapore GP: Pirelli predicts two-stop race

Maldonado starts a remarkable second and will be hoping to avoid incident this afternoon to secure his first points since that win in Spain.

Hamilton looks to be on fine form this weekend and lines up on the front of the grid in his McLaren after finding a perfect lap in Q3.

Here's how the grid will line up under the lights: Starting grid: Pos Driver Car 1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 2. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 4. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 6. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 7. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 8. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 9. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 10. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 11. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 12. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 13. Felipe Massa Ferrari 14. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 15. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 16. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 17. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 18. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 20. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 21. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 22. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 23. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 24. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth

Light showers have threatened to move in over the Marina Bay circuit in the last hour or so, but thankfully they fizzled out before getting there.

We are clear to go for a hot, dry and humid race, with air temperature up around 29 degrees Celsius and humidity approaching 75 percent.

At the front of the grid, a respectful one minutes' silence is about to be held for professor Sid Watkins, who passed away last week. He was 84.

Here's how the standings look heading into this evening's race: World Championship standings, round 13: Drivers: Constructors: 1. Alonso 179 1. Red Bull-Renault 272 2. Hamilton 142 2. McLaren-Mercedes 243 3. Raikkonen 141 3. Ferrari 226 4. Vettel 140 4. Lotus-Renault 217 5. Webber 132 5. Mercedes 126 6. Button 101 6. Sauber-Ferrari 100 7. Rosberg 83 7. Force India-Mercedes 63 8. Grosjean 76 8. Williams-Renault 54

The fans rise to respect the Singapore national anthem, as it rings out over the 5.073km Marina Bay circuit.

Hamilton

Hello everyone and welcome to AUTOSPORT Live for coverage and rolling updates from round 14 of the FIA Formula 1 world championship - the Singapore Grand Prix from Marina Bay.

Lewis Hamilton blasted his way to pole position with a great lap of 1m46.362s, but the Briton will be wary at the start following Pastor Maldonado's sensational run to grab a spot on the front row. Sebastian Vettel led all three practice sessions comfortably, but couldn't replicate that pace when he really needed it, so the German is third, with Jenson Button fourth in the other McLaren.

Hamilton beats Maldonado to pole at Marina Bay

Mark Webber left the track twice in qualifying yesterday, but the stewards decided that a reprimand was enough for the Australian, while Bruno Senna and Pedro de la Rosa take five-place grid penalties into tonight's 61-lap race.