Ferrari qualifying report: Carlos Sainz on pole, Russell splits the Ferraris at Marina Bay

Here is our full text transcript from the qualifying session for the 2023 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay street circuit:

Night has fallen, the floodlights are on and we are all set for what should hopefully be a thrilling qualifying hour! Scuderia Ferrari appear the favourites for pole position, but we could have a four-team fight on our hands with Mercedes and the McLaren of Lando Norris looking fast. And we surely can’t rule out Red Bull coming good when it matters despite their relative struggles so far this weekend and Max Verstappen’s vocal complaints in final practice.

It may even extend to a five-team fight should Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin show the form of yesterday evening after a more difficult session earlier today. And the drivers are fighting for a pole position that is one of the most crucial of the season, with eight of the Singapore GP’s 13 winners coming from pole.

McLaren have brought a big upgrade here to Singapore – the FIA’s document listing nine new parts, the most of any team in the paddock. Updates have been added around the car, and they appear to be paying off. Lando Norris has received the full upgrade, and has been firmly in the fight for the forward positions throughout the weekend so far. Oscar Piastri has some of the new parts and will get the full upgrade at next weekend’s Japanese GP.

There is just something about the Singapore track which changes the pecking order or denies a dominant team from continuing their success. In 2015, Mercedes came to Singapore a very dominant year and were off the pace as they failed to finish on the podium – the only time that happened in that season. Red Bull have won every race so far but are under serious pressure to keep their 100 per cent streak alive. Track position is so important around this track, so if Red Bull aren’t on the first couple of rows, they will be in trouble.

Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle ahead of qualifying: “A lot of the pit lane think they have a chance to burst the Red Bull battle. Red Bull are definitely struggling. They thought they had too soft a setup on the car, so went back to a more normal setup today. But it still didn’t exactly bring the car alive today. The drivers were complaining about lack of feel, grip on the exit. Ferrari seem to be the team to beat this evening.”

There’s been a big queue of cars at the end of the pit lane, it’s almost like the teams are expecting rain! There isn’t any wet weather coming, but they all want to get a banker lap in case of any red flags…

14 mins to go in Q1: It’s a 1:32.556 from Lando Norris, which is 0.007s quicker than Sergio Perez. Max Verstappen slots into third and here come the Ferrari cars. As they start to get up and running, the Ferraris are next to cross the line with their opening Q1 efforts – and it’s Charles Leclerc who is ahead this time. He goes fastest on a 1:32.523, with P3 pacesetter Carlos Sainz some 0.4s back in sixth.

10 mins to go in Q1: It’s a very quick lap from George Russell as he goes fastest by 0.045s from Leclerc. Lewis Hamilton goes fifth, underlining he’s not quite had the pace of Russell this weekend in Singapore. Fernando Alonso hasn’t yet been quite as dynamic around Marina Bay as many had expected in that Aston Martin, but let’s see what he has up his sleeve for qualy. He’s on his opening lap now. Lance Stroll, meanwhile, has complained about being blocked on his opening lap by Logan Sargeant in the Willams. All 20 cars on track now.

7 mins to go: Max Verstappen goes fastest! He moves 0.080s clear of George Russell despite not being fastest in any single sector. Lando Norris also improves in the top four. But it may not last long up front for the Red Bull. And now it’s Carlos Sainz on top with a 1:32.339, which is 0.059s quicker than Verstappen. Charles Leclerc goes third, ahead of Russell, Norris and Perez.

1 min to go in Q1: Track evolution could be a big factor here since Singapore is a street circuit and the rain this morning has made the track green. Interestingly, the times are still not faster than Final Practice earlier today. Chequered flag: Alex Albon goes 10th which should be safe as Zhou Guanyu is knocked out. Then, Yuki Tsunoda goes fastest! WOW. Red flag: Lance Stroll crashes at the final corner as he loses control of the car. Stroll says he’s OK and it brings Q1 to an abrupt end in Singapore. Stroll’s big crash meant several drivers did not complete their final lap in Q1. Oscar Piastri was the big loser and Lewis Hamilton was fortunate to not be bumped into the drop zone too, ending up in 14th. But, Hamilton looked like he was on a better lap.

The start of Q2 will inevitably be delayed while marshals take time to retrieve the Aston Martin and then complete barrier repairs after that heavy impact.

Several cars have been noted for driving too slowly between Turns 16 and 19. There was a rule at Monza which stated a definitive time the drivers couldn’t drive slower than, but there is no such rule this weekend in Singapore.

Away we go for Q2 in Singapore. The track conditions will have changed over the last half an hour, which will only add to the intrigue. It’s Perez who leads Verstappen out of the pit lane first. Kevin Magnussen sets the target time. Yes that’s right. Magnussen is faster than the Red Bull duo. From nowhere Fernando Alonso is now at the top of the timesheets in the Aston Martin. Carlos Sainz is second and Charles Leclerc is fourth but both drivers are on used softs. Lando Norris is third, with Magnussen fifth, Ocon sixth, Max Verstappen seventh and Sergio Perez eighth. Already that’s eighth and ninth for Red Bull after the first laps – and the Mercedes’ haven’t even run yet in Q2, so you’d suspect they will be shuffled into the drop zone in a few minutes.

7 mins to go in Q2: George Russell is now quickest with a 1:31.743, which is 0.092 faster than Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton goes fifth, so still needs to find time compared to his team-mate. Oh dear…the stewards have now noted this apparent impeding incident with Verstappen and Tsunoda. The latter certainly wasn’t happy.

All 15 cars are out there now for one last lap to secure a place in Q3. Big moments here for Red Bull as they are fighting just to get through this part of qualifying. Max Verstappen is out of qualifying! Liam Lawson delivers a stunning lap to go 10th and push Verstappen down a place into the drop zone. Verstappen improved his lap and went 10th, only for Lawson to get into Q3 for the first time in his career. Both Red Bulls are eliminated from qualifying. In amongst all that, Carlos Sainz ended up fastest from George Russell and Fernando Alonso. This is going to be a wide open battle for pole position in Singapore.

Here we go then. Q3 is under way and anyone can take pole quite frankly after what’s happened so far in Singapore. 7 mins to go in Q3: It’s Carlos Sainz who goes to the top in these first runs from team-mate Charles Leclerc by 0.251s. Lando Norris slots into third. Here come the Mercedes…Six and seven tenths off the pace respectively for George Russell and Lewis Hamilton in fourth and fifth. That means Norris stays third for now after the first runs!

3 mins to go in Q3: The Ferraris lead the way out of the pit lane with three minutes still to go. They are out there now so they are not affected by any red flags or yellow flags. Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso, Kevin Magnussen, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson join them. The Mercedes pair elect to stay in the garage for now.

Chequered flag: Carlos Sainz takes provisional pole from Charles Leclerc as both drivers improve their laps. Lando Norris goes third but here come the Mercedes…Woh, so nearly pole position for Mercedes instead of Ferrari! A storming final lap from George Russell sees the Briton come up just 0.072s short on taking P1 off Ferrari. But it’s pole position – for the second race in a row – for Carlos Sainz. He’s been flying around here! Charles Leclerc is shuffled back to third in the second Ferrari, with Lando Norris fourth for McLaren. It’s Lewis Hamilton fifth – with Kevin Magnussen sixth for Haas alongside! What an astonishing qualifying here in Singapore. We told you it was one not to miss!.