Welcome back to ESPNF1's live coverage of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. We've watched final practice, the sun has set and next up is the all-important qualifying session. Starting from the front of the grid offers a big advantage here so we should be in for a thrilling session.

Judging by the three practice session so far, Vettel will be the man to beat over the qualifying hour. He finished FP3 0.325s faster than Hamilton and looks comfortably quick out there.

Hamilton appears to be the closest competitor for Vettel, and probably could have been closer to the Red Bull in FP3 has it not been for a few mistakes. So the pace might be in the McLaren, but it looks like Hamilton is having to work harder than Vettel to put a quick lap in.

Jenson Button and Mark Webber didn't feature in the top ten in FP3, but that was because their final super-soft tyre runs got ruined by a red flag. Vitaly Petrov slammed against the wall coming out of turn 21 and unfortunately parked his car on the entrance to the pit lane.

Tony says: "Hi I must admit to being a Vettel fan, and I find it a bit annoying that most people are playing Seb down a bit, but am I not right in thinking that without the two alternator failures and getting dropped 6 places in one race he would be leading the championship, go Seb go win today then the title."

There are a lot of ifs and buts alongside all the drivers in the top half of the championship (with the exception of Fernando Alonso, who has only really missed out on points in Belgium), but it's true that Vettel has been particularly unlucky with his alternator issues.

Further back in the pack, Mercedes and Lotus have been struggling to match the front-running pace this weekend. Lotus are expected to close the gap a bit when it comes to race pace, but qualifying is where the team needs to improve and it doesn't appear to have done that for this weekend.

Mercedes has brought a number of updates to this weekend's race but the team is saying it will take a couple of races to get them up to speed.

McLaren tweets: "After the three practice sessions so far this w/e, the MP4-27 looks competitive. But we're about to find out how competitive!"

The circuit is ready with almost every vantage point taken around the circuit and a packed concert arena in the park in the middle of the circuit. The good news since final practice is that F1 will be returning to Singapore for another five years.

Wejuli asks: "Could the McLaren's still be hiding some pace for Qualy? Looks like Button and Lewis still had some speed they hadn't explored yet?"

It seems that way. It's certainly going to be close with Red Bull.

Stanley says: "P1 Vettel, P2 Webber, P3 Hamilton? Little chance of Alonso pulling a surprise is there?"

The Ferrari was over 0.6s off Vettel in FP3 and has looked a little bit off the pace all weekend. He'll be hoping to be on the front two rows in the hope that his race pace is better on Sunday.

The session is underway with Perez heading out followed by Raikkonen.

Perez skips the chicane at turn 10 on his first lap. He's out there on soft tyres just to try and get a banker lap in.

Track temperature is down a few degrees to 30C now that the sun has gone in.

Raikkonen runs a little wide and has to perform a 180 degree spin in one of the run off areas to get his car pointing in the right direction again.

Alonso is currently fastest with 1:49.511 on softs, but it's still early in this session.

Rosberg has to skip the final part of the Singapore Sling chicane and jumps his car quite neatly over the kerbs.

Meanwhile, Hamilton skips the second corner as he overcooks it into turn one. Plenty of little errors going on at the moment.

The two Red Bulls are still in the pits, everybody else has either set a lap or is about to.

Button also skips the Singapore Sling after locking a brake on entry.

Hamilton set a fastest first sector but backed off in the second and final sectors. He will have to go for another lap.

Hamilton hooks up a very nice lap indeed with a 1:48.285 to go comfortably fastest. Button can only manage 1:49.381 (over a second off) but is still second fastest.

Now Red Bull show their hand with Vettel 0.002s off Hamilton. It's going to be very close between those two. Webber is about 0.6s off in third.

Raikkonen is out on super-softs to try to make sure he makes the top 17 in this session. Vergne and Kobayashi are still in the drop zone but will no doubt both head out on super-softs now. Petrov is currently in the top 17.

Vettel is told he will have to go out again because the track is continuing to evolve and improve. Red Bull's concern is that the midfield runners on super-softs could find some time, but it would have to be close to 3.0s for it to worry Vettel.

Grosjean is showing the pace on the circuit now with a 1:47.688 on super-softs.

Webber is going for another run but staying on softs.

Vergne is still in the drop zone at the moment and about 1.7s off the likes of Massa and Schumacher who have not gone for another run. Vergne is now out on the super-softs.

Vergne goes ahead of Massa. Kobayashi is out as he could not improve. Disappointing for the Sauber driver after the team's pace in Monza.

Kobayashi finished 0.124s off Senna, who was next up in the drop zone. Massa was also pretty close as he continues to struggle with his Ferrari.

Senna clouted the wall towards the end of that session and the team is checking the rear suspension to make sure everything is still okay.

Steve asks: "Massa. How long can he last?"

Q2 has started with Raikkonen leaving the pits on super-softs.

Kobayashi tells Sky Sports he has no idea why the car didn't have the pace in Q1. Disappointing for him after coming into this race full of confidence.

All 17 cars are on track now and Raikkonen sets a 1:48.261.

Grosjean loses the rear of his car and hits the barrier hard at turn 14. He's made it back to the pits but I'd be surprised if there is no damage.

Alonso clocks a 1:48.058 to go fastest, but not much quicker than Raikkonen.

Webber can't beat Alonso's time, but Vettel is on a different level as he sets a 1:46.791.

Big shunt for Senna as he hits the wall on the exit of turn 21. The rear suspension is definitely broken and that's his second incident this weekend.

Hamilton responds to Vettel with a 1:46.665. Still close at the top and very difficult to call.

One thing we do know is that Senna will not be taking any further part in this session and will start 17th tomorrow.

Grosjean is heading back out so his damage wasn't too bad. He'll have time to set a time in this session.

Raikkonen and di Resta are also back on track for another shot at the top ten.

Schumacher, Hulkenberg, Perez, Ricciardo, Vergne, Grosjean and Senna are all in the drop zone.

The top three are staying in the pits and are obviously happy they will not need to improve.

But Grosjean has just muscled his way ahead of Button with a 1:47.529 to go third fastest.

Hamilton's view via McLaren's Twitter: "Red Bull have made a big step forward. My lap was good and they're that close. That's impressive. "

Webber improves to third. Di Resta and Hulkenberg are up to sixth and eighth with Rosberg in between.

Raikkonen is out of Q3 as are Massa and Perez

Maldonado makes the cut with a good lap and Schumacher gets through too, knocking out Hulkenberg.

Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Massa, Perez, Ricciardo, Vergne and Senna are out in Q2.

Bad news for Raikkonen's title chances as he will start 12th on a circuit where it is very difficult to overtake.

Jason says: "That won't help securing Bruno's seat for next year! "

Beya asks: "I'd just like to ask if each team runs identical cars for their drivers? Im especially curious about the Red Bulls."

Sometimes teams will run slightly different parts if they only have one example of a new update (Silverstone 2010 is an example), but as far as we know the two Red Bulls are the same.

Wejuli says: "Looks like the fight for pole is going to be a fierce battle between Vettel and Hamilton. Impressive Q2 stuff from both of them. Safety car most likely for the race. Am going for Hamilton for Pole"

Both Mercedes have gone out on soft tyres, possibly to set some sector times and then return to the pits to save tyres. That would mean they would not set a time but would still start ahead of any other driver opting not to clock a time.

The two Red Bulls are back on track too. Only Alonso and Grosjean staying in the pits.

Di Resta returns to the pits but the Mercedes have stayed out.

Hamilton is 0.4s faster in the first sector of the lap than Vettel... and 0.3s faster in the middle sector ... and he sets a 1:46.362 - the fastest time yet.

Vettel is down in third after that first attempt, over a second off Hamilton. Button is second 0.9s off Hamilton.

Only the top three have set times. We should see the cars head out again for a final run.

Alonso heads out now on brand new super-softs. Webber is also going out on super-softs.

The two McLarens also leave the pits.

Grosjean locks up coming off the Anderson bridge. His lap is someway off the the front runners.

Rosberg and Schumacher are not heading out for another run.

Alonso is 0.450s off Hamilton in the first sector ...

Maldonado goes second with a 1:46.804. Good lap but should be beaten by Vettel.

Alonso completes his lap and goes third fastest behind Maldonado.

Webber can only manage fifth.

Vettel does not beat Maldonado. He can only manage a 1:46.905.

Button improves to fourth but is 0.034s off Vettel.

Hamilton does not improve but did kiss the wall on his final lap. He was on pole by 0.442s though. Impressive stuff.

Brilliant lap by Maldonado as well. Vettel looks a little miffed to be that far off Hamilton at the end, but the points are handed out tomorrow.

Thanks for joining us for this qualifying session. It was a fantastic hour, although we were expecting a closer battle for pole in the end. Tomorrow's race should be just as exciting and it will be very important for the championship with Alonso starting from fifth.

We'll have all the driver and team reaction on the website tonight and then we'll be back with more live commentary for the race tomorrow.