Singapore Grand Prix qualifying: Shock for Vettel as Rosberg takes pole

Updated 17/09/2016 at 21:18 GMT

Nico Rosberg grabbed another pole with Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo joining him on the front row - but Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel both had shockers in qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix.

Nico Rosberg in Singapore

Image credit: Reuters

Q1

Final practice had been marred by a track invader.

Yes, yet again the tough security at an F1 circuit had been breached, completely putting off pace-setter Max Verstappen.

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The lizard was removed from the track before qualifying, fortunately, and they got under way under lights.

Fernando Alonso got off to a flyer - chasing down the Mercedes and slotting in behind them at one point.

It was Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull who was quickest overall, seven-tenths of a second ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

It was a less positive start for Scuderia pal Sebastian Vettel, though, pulling into the garage in a very bad mood without setting a time, and ending his qualifying session prematurely.

The team bore the brunt of his rage, with some choice vocabulary on show.

OUT: Kevin Magnussen (Renault), Felipe Nasr (Sauber), Jolyon Palmer (Renault), Pascal Wehrlein (Manor), Esteban Ocon (Manor), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

Q2

Nico Rosberg led the way, nearly half a second ahead of Lewis Hamilton in Q2, with the Red Bulls slotting in behind - business as usual.

Romain Grosjean lost grip in his Haas as the clock ticked down, bouncing into the soft barriers and bringing out the double-yellow flags.

It looked like it might hamper the McLarens, both still pushing for the top 10 and out on the track, but Fernando Alonso made it through in eighth - while Jenson Button's car just packed up and rolled into the escape road.

Not good from the Williams pair either - both Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas dropped out.

OUT: Valtteri Bottas (Williams), Felipe Massa (Williams), Jenson Button (McLaren), Esteban Gutierrez (Haas), Romain Grosjean (Haas), Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)

Q3

The shoot-out was delayed by ten minutes while they fixed the barriers torn by Grosjean's bump.

When it started, it was Rosberg once more out in front and cruising to pole. Ricciardo recovered some of that Q1 pace to join him on the front row, although Verstappen struggled to keep up with his senior team-mate; and Hamilton staggered in third.

There was a decent enough showing from Alonso, slotting in between the Force Indias of Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez - if McLaren really have fixed some of those reliability issues, then he may well get some points tomorrow.

QUALIFYING IN SUMMARY

Great display from Rosberg all weekend, securing him his 29th career pole. Hamilton was inconsistent and was lucky to come in third, to be honest.

And spare a thought for Esteban Ocon, 20 today, and eliminated in Q1.

BIGGEST SHOCK

The Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel departing in Q3 has to be the biggest shock - and he was clearly very angry about the car failing, which isn't what one would expect from the red team.

Actually, Daniil Kvyat of Toro Rosso making it to Q3 and securing himself seventh on the grid was a pretty big shock as well after his disastrous recent form.