Charles Leclerc takes pole in dramatic Singapore GP qualifying

Charles Leclerc will start from pole for the Singapore Grand Prix, after a dramatic qualifying session in damp conditions.

The Ferrari driver sensationally took pole by just 0.022s from Sergio Perez after Ferrari elected to keep him out to do a final run at the end of the session.

Lewis Hamilton will start from third on the grid. The Mercedes driver elected to switch to slicks after spending the whole session on Intermediates, setting the early pace in the process.

But his late laps were not good enough to improve on Leclerc's effort, finishing just 0.054s off by the chequered flag.

On the weekend that he could secure the Drivers Championship, Max Verstappen will start from eighth having elected to do a final run in the dying moments of the session.

Despite matching his best efforts, Verstappen had to abort the lap at the end and pull into the pits. Irate over the team radio, he was told by the team they would explain to him after the session what the problem was in what was a suspected fuel-sample issue.

Fernando Alonso rounds out the top five while Lando Norris starts from sixth with his best effort.

Russell shock dropout in Q2

George Russell was the shock departure from Q2 struggling to put in a lap good enough to get into the top 10 in the damp conditions.

The Mercedes driver will start from 11th alongside Lance Stroll, who made an early switch to Soft tyres with teammate Sebastian Vettel.

Neither were able to put in a lap good enough to progress, with Vettel beliving it was too early for dry tyres.

They were joined by Mick Schumacher and Zhou Guanyu who will start from 13th and 15th respectively.

Third Q1 departure of season for Ocon

Esteban Ocon dropped out in Q1 for the third time this season, having failed to improve on his lap on the Intermediates in the closing stages.

The Alpine driver was just 18th quickest but complained about brake problems after the session when he pulled into the pits.

"The brakes guys, I had no brakes that lap" he said over team radio.

Daniel Ricciardo was another shock departure from Q1, marking it his third Q1 elimination in the last seven races.

They were joined by Valtteri Bottas who was knocked out by both Haas drivers improving in the closing stages, while Alex Albon will start from 19th on his return alongside teammate Nicholas Latifi in 20th.