Vettel keeps Red Bull on top

Final practice for the Singapore Grand Prix got off to a slow start on Saturday evening.

The track was still slightly damp from an earlier shower and the teams preferred to save life in the limited sets of slicks allocated to this session.

They kicked off with the usual round of installation laps and then came back into the pits. With 45 minutes remaining, Kamui Kobayashi broke the silence that had fallen on the Marina Bay circuit but headed back towards the garage after a single tour.

Lucas di Grassi eventually posted a first time on the board twenty minutes into the session. It prompted other drivers to join him on track and the session came alive. The Brazilian rapidly slipped through the order and was down in 16th place at the halfway point.

Kubica was now leading from Schumacher. Buemi was third with Massa fourth and Hulkenberg fifth. Both Red Bulls of Vettel and Webber were still to post a time.

Webber’s first effort put him in P7 while Vettel slotted in P9. Up front, Hulkenberg improved on his time to go fastest… only to be demoted by Lewis Hamilton. Alonso took over at the front with just under 20 minutes remaining but was immediately edged over by Vettel.

The Red Bull driver then slightly upped the pace and posted a 1’48’’350. He further improved in the closing moments of the session and moved himself six tenths of a second clear of Alonso in 2nd place.

Bruno Senna messed up the final lap of a number of drivers when he overshot Turn 18 and remained stranded on the track. Webber and Hamilton, in particular, when forced to slow down.

Vettel remained fastest, six tenths clear of Alonso. Hamilton was third fastest with Massa hot on his heels. Nico Rosberg was fifth fastest, a full second down on Vettel. Webber was sixth fastest.