Qualifications – Singapore: Sebastian Vettel topples the Mercedes star!

Night has definitively covered the sky of Singapore: the time for the thirteenth Qualification session of the season has arrived!

Under the spotlight of the 5,065-kilometer circuit: this session promises to be most interesting: the Formula 1 paddock has its eyes set on the statistics. Two stand out: can the Mercedes team equal this afternoon the record of consecutive poles, 24, set by the Williams team between the 1992 French Grand Prix and the 1993 Japanese Grand Prix?

Can Lewis Hamilton, on his part, match his idol Ayrton Senna by securing an 8th consecutive pole position?

The start of the weekend, for once, doesn’t inspire overwhelming enthusiasm for the firm with the Star. Indeed, Daniil Kyvat for Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel for Ferrari claimed the fastest times in two of the three Free Practice sessions. The reigning world champion team seemed to be struggling with its tires until then.

Paddy Lowe says @MercedesAMGF1 worried. Will @ScuderiaFerrari claim pole in #Quali? RT YES, FAV NO #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/PhYmcamVHP

— Formula 1 (@F1) 19 Septembre 2015

But the moment of truth arrives: it is 9 PM in Singapore, 3 PM in France and the green light is given: Q1 begins!

At the start of this session, the characteristic heat of the city-state is still very present: 34 degrees on the track compared to 28 degrees in the air. And above all, humidity at 77%!

Little curiosity in the Lotus garage: Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado both put on a unique suit in Xbox colors, which belongs to Microsoft, a longtime sponsor of the team.

.@XBOX!! pic.twitter.com/xuc64zcO38

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) 19 Septembre 2015

The first driver on track is Manor’s Alexander Rossi, who is participating in the first Formula 1 qualifying session of his career.

GREEN LIGHT: #Quali is under way with Q3 and US driver @AlexanderRossi is first on track #SingaporeGP #F1NightRace pic.twitter.com/zJO9niDiA2

— Formula 1 (@F1) 19 Septembre 2015

Valtteri Bottas sets the very first benchmark time. It is improved by Daniel Ricciardo. 1:46.805 for the Australian on his first lap, on soft tires for now. His teammate Daniil Kvyat also positions himself in second place. But just like this morning in Free Practice 3, Sebastian Vettel takes the lead and sets a time of 1:46.017, more than 7 tenths faster than the two Red Bulls.

The start of this Q1 so far resembles the practice session held three hours ago. Nico Rosberg is currently 6th, Lewis Hamilton only 14th! It should be noted that Nico Rosberg changed his settings before the start of these Qualifications, so the two Mercedes drivers will be on two very different configurations.

With five minutes to go, Hamilton still hasn’t moved from his 14th position. The situation is as follows: Vettel is still leading ahead of Ricciardo and Räikkönen. Those eliminated would be: Sainz, Pérez, Maldonado, Rossi, and Stevens. But most drivers are going to switch to super-soft tires for the final stints.

With almost two minutes to go, Lewis Hamilton pulls himself out of the midfield and sets a more convincing time of 1:45.765. He climbs to the top of the rankings, only surpassed by Kvyat. Sebastian Vettel feels confident: he stays in the garage, as do Nico Hülkenberg in his Force India and Pastor Maldonado in his Lotus, both drivers still under threat of elimination. Maldonado actually falls into the red zone: he is eliminated along with the two Manors. So there are still two spots to be determined: Nasr and Ericsson for Sauber are under pressure. The Swede improves, as does the Brazilian. But Jenson Button, just barely, manages to escape and sends the two Saubers to hell!

Eliminated in Q1: Nasr, Ericsson, Maldonado, Stevens, Rossi

After a few minutes of refreshment in the sweltering heat of Singapore, Valtteri Bottas leads the pack on the starry ribbon, so we are at the start of Q2!

Cooling down before driving out again… Q2 is GO! #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/R03PrNQLfz

— Toro Rosso (@ToroRossoSpy) 19 Septembre 2015

Bottas, Hülkenberg, and Massa take turns at the top of the timesheet. But the big names of the weekend now make their appearance: Sebastian Vettel leads the pack in this first lap; the German was the last to go out, but he takes the lead with a time of 1:44.713! He is ahead of Kvyat and Räikkönen, followed by Ricciardo, Hamilton, and Rosberg. Grosjean is currently in the Top 10, which would be good news for Lotus.

At the end of the initial attempts, and five minutes before the end of this session, those who would be eliminated are: Pérez, Hülkenberg, Alonso, Sainz, and Button.

Only four drivers remain in the garage at the start of the final laps of Q2. But the symbolism is significant: Ferrari and Red Bull can afford to save themselves while the two Mercedes have to return to the track!

A yellow flag is waved at the end of this session: Carlos Sainz is having difficulties in the last sector. The Spaniard hit the wall on the exit of turn 21: the suspension seems broken! As a result, the drivers must slow down in the accident area, so the positions are frozen!

YELLOW FLAGS as Sainz hits the wall: “Sorry guys, sorry” #Quali #SingaporeGP #F1NightRace pic.twitter.com/UFXDuW826f

— Formula 1 (@F1) 19 Septembre 2015

Disappointment in the McLaren-Honda camp: neither Alonso nor Button can make it to Q3. Carlos Sainz certainly over-drove to try to catch up with his teammate Max Verstappen, who will be present in the final session!

Eliminated in Q2: Hülkenberg, Alonso, Pérez, Sainz, Button

We are now awaiting the final session of these Qualifications. The initial laps so far have confirmed this hypothesis: Mercedes could be beaten this afternoon! Will Ferrari and Red Bull put an end to this hegemony?

The green light is on: it’s time for Q3! Daniel Ricciardo is the first to take to the track, followed by Daniil Kvyat. The Red Bull team can immediately put pressure on Mercedes!

GREEN LIGHT: Q3 and the battle for 2015 #SingaporeGP pole is on #Quali #SingaporeGP #F1NightRace pic.twitter.com/nAuAmcBE3I

— Formula 1 (@F1) 19 Septembre 2015

Daniel Ricciardo completes his first timed lap: 1:44.607. He temporarily beats Daniil Kvyat: 1:44.772 for the Russian. Kimi Räikkönen slots in with a time of 1:44.305.

But once again, Sebastian Vettel makes everyone agree: 1:44.305, provisional pole for the quadruple World Champion! Can the two Mercedes drivers rise to the challenge? Nico Rosberg is 1.544 seconds behind! Lewis Hamilton hasn’t even set a time.

Vettel lands the first blow in Q3 going 3 tenths quicker than RIC #Quali #SingaporeGP #F1NightRace pic.twitter.com/CtBEZJo6hD

— Formula 1 (@F1) 19 Septembre 2015

As Sebastian Vettel prepares for the final attempt, he firmly holds onto this Pole Position, he just needs to clinch it! All 10 drivers are now on the track. Daniel Ricciardo improves but it’s not enough to take the Pole: Sebastian Vettel secures the Pole Position in the night of Singapore! A historic moment in the modern era of turbo engines as Ferrari breaks the invincibility of Mercedes engines established since the 2014 Australian Grand Prix.

Scuderia Ferrari also reconnects with the joys of Pole Position: the last Pole on a dry track was right here in Singapore five years ago! Fernando Alonso had still achieved two other pole positions in the rain, the last one being in Germany 2012!

Pole Position for #Seb5, 1st with Ferrari and 208 for the team! #Kimi7 is P3 Great job guys! Beautiful! #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/8A72AaC2Gl

— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) 19 Septembre 2015

It will still be necessary to deliver tomorrow afternoon in the race. Red Bull will be a threat as Ricciardo will start from the front row. Kimi Räikkönen and Daniil Kvyat will start from the second row while Mercedes has to settle for a modest third row: Hamilton 5th ahead of Rosberg 6th.

Here is the complete ranking of this qualifying session:

The battle for victory and the podium positions will be thrilling tomorrow. Especially since the two-hour race on this nighttime urban circuit hardly forgives even the slightest mistake…

Join us tomorrow afternoon on motorsinside.com for the Singapore Grand Prix summary!