F1 Singapore GP Live Commentary and Updates – Qualifying

Just one minute to go before Q1 begins. As a reminder, this session will determine the 15 drivers that progress to Q2, with drivers in positions 16-20 locked into those starting positions tomorrow.

Franco Colapinto has made a successful start to his F1 career with Williams, netting four points for finishing eighth in Baku last time out. That was also the best grid position for a Williams driver all season, but team boss James Vowles has defended his decision not to put the Argentine in the car sooner. Here's what he had to say.

One of the big talking points of yesterday was the FIA's request that McLaren heeded to alter its 'mini-DRS' rear wing, but on the evidence of the weekend so far it has had fairly minimal impact. Jonathan Noble dissects the matter here.

There is a 0% chance of rain for this session and air temperatures are at 29.5 °C. Not long now until we can get going to determine the grid for tomorrow's Singapore Grand Prix. 

Alex Albon will have been left encouraged by the pace Williams showed in FP3, which he ended in eighth and team-mate Franco Colapinto ninth. But there are two things he'll hope not to see repeated in qualifying - the interruption caused by an ambling lizard, who thankfully came to no harm; and the wall tap which resulted in a puncture. Could we see a Williams, or two, in Q3 today?

Lewis Hamilton improved to end up seventh in FP3, having been outside the top 10 yesterday feeling "lost". The Mercedes man isn't the only one to make gains overnight, with Max Verstappen up in fourth in FP3 after remarking that "nothing is working" on his Red Bull after FP2. Although Verstappen predicted on Thursday that it would take a small miracle for Red Bull to be in the mix here, miracles do happen sometimes...

George Russell had an adventurous time of things in FP3 as he made a few trips into the run-off, following on from tagging the wall and ripping off a front wing in FP2 yesterday. But the Mercedes man did end FP3 second-fastest behind Norris. Can he elbow his way into what yesterday appeared to be a Ferrari vs McLaren duel for pole?

It was honours even on Friday for McLaren and Ferrari, with Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc topping one session each. But there were contrasting fortunes for the pair earlier in FP3, as Norris topped the times while Leclerc was left to lament having "no grip" as he struggled to the fifth fastest time. Here's the full report, if you're just catching up.

Good afternoon everybody, and welcome to Autosport's live text coverage of qualifying from the Singapore Grand Prix. It's always a spectacular one under the lights, and today should be no different with the added bonus of a multi-manufacturer fight at the front to whet the appetite. Let us begin.