F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2023 - LIVE UPDATES!

The American has got back going but his front wing is stuck under his car with debris flying everywhere. A VSC is a serious possibility here. 

Incredibly, Piastri is warned of light rain in around five minutes.

Watch this space...

Russell asks his engineers what he has to do to win the race, a clear show of optimism from the Mercedes driver. 

Now Ferrari request a FIVE second gap from Leclerc to Sainz, as concerns may be arising about pit windows for the leader. 

If Sainz were to pit now, he'd come out around P17 - not ideal.

Leclerc sets a new fastest lap on lap 16, still around 2 seconds behind Sainz.

The strategy games are quite frankly all over the place, as once again Verstappen is told to back off from Ocon.

Hamilton is right on the tail of Norris, who is also just 0.7s shy of Russell.

Meanwhile, Russell is catching Leclerc who continues to drop back in second...

Leclerc had taken a few tenths off his teammate, as he told his engineer "I think Carlos is slowing down a bit".

Now he has dropped back on lap 14, making the gap between the Ferraris 2.3 seconds.

Verstappen told he needs to manage more, as he is overheating his tyres and car too much according to his team.

The Dutchman is 1.5s behind Ocon.

"Looks like they're going to sacrifice Leclerc", says Russell's engineer.

The gap requested by Ferrari would certainly push Leclerc back into Russell...

"I could go forever at this pace" - Sainz

Interestingly, Leclerc's engineer tells him to back away from Sainz, presumably to not overheat his car behind his teammate.

Ferrari are cruising, however. Sainz has set a new fastest lap on his medium tyre, with both red cars extending their advantage to Russell behind. 

Just two seconds seperating Alonso, Ocon and Verstappen in the battle for sixth.

It's thought several drivers are managing their tyres. Strategy could prove key today.

It seems Tsunoda actually retired as a result of a puncture on lap 1, which is definitely an odd one given most of the time that isn't a race ending issue.

Having lost places in the opening laps, Perez is now back to his grid position of P13, behind Lawson.

Not quite the quick start seen by his teammate on the hard tyre...

Not much of a field spread so far, with a few DRS trains forming around the track.

Max has finally got past Magnussen and is up into P8. Ocon will be next in his sights.

Sainz still leading by just 0.9s to his teammate

Hamilton has now let Norris through, making the top 10: SAI, LEC, RUS, NOR, HAM, ALO, OCO, MAG, VER, HUL.

No investigation neccessary from the stewards on Hamilton, as lap 5 comes to an end.

Norris wants the place back from Hamilton, who has given one back to his teammate for leaving the track and gaining an advantage - which has been noted by the stewards.

Zhou has pitted for hard tyres, presumably aiming to go til the end.

Verstappen has made up another place to P9, who is right on the gearbox of Magnussen.

Magnussen has lost places to Alonso and Ocon, who are now P6 and P7. 

Verstappen is up to P10.

Leclerc has the jump on Russell into P2 who has also lost a place to his teammate Hamilton, who took avoiding action off the track to take P3!

The front-runners are making their way round to the end of the formation lap, as the race start is imminent here at Singapore!

Everyone in the top 10 will start on mediums besides Charles Leclerc, who has opted for the soft tyre.

Both Red Bulls are on the hards, clearly relying on strategy to have any chance in today's race. Bottas is also starting with the white-walled tyre.

Tsunoda, Piastri and Zhou are the soft runners outside the top 10, with the rest of the pack on mediums.

• We will see 62 laps this year due to track changes at the new turn 16, removing four corners for a longer straight.
• It's the C3, C4 and C5 compounds in use - the softest in Pirelli's range.

Sainz will lead the pack, sharing the front row with the Mercedes of Russell.

The other Ferrari of Leclerc is close behind in third, with Norris and Hamilton in P4 and P5.

Magnussen pulled a blinder to achieve P6, in a great qualifying session for Haas that also sees Hulkenberg in P9. Splitting them are Alonso and birthday boy Ocon in P7 and P8.

Lawson rounds off the top 10 as the highest placed 'Red Bull' driver, with Verstappen and Perez on his tail in P11 and P13.

In P12 is Gasly, with Albon in P14 from Tsunoda, Bottas, Piastri and Sargeant. Zhou will start in the pit lane, due to parts changes in parc ferme.