Sebastian Vettel beats Fernando Alonso in practice

Sebastian Vettel will go into... ...qualifying as favourite for pole position after being quickest in final practice for the Singapore Grand Prix.

On a track that was damp in places, the Red Bull driver finished the session more than half a second faster than Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

Lewis Hamilton was third fastest, almost a second slower than Vettel.

Vettel's team-mate Mark Webber was only sixth fastest, but the Australian had to abandon his fastest lap in traffic.

After rain during the day, the condition of the track was once again a factor, and most drivers completed their installation laps on their intermediate tyres.

Then it was a case of waiting for the best part of 20 minutes, presumably for the track to dry a little more before Lucas Di Grassi's Virgin recorded the first timed lap.

Given it was a fraction over two minutes, the leading contenders waited in their garages, but the Renaults of Vitaly Petrov and Robert Kubica needed track time, and their appearance helped dry the racing line.

With 35 minutes remaining Ferrari sent out Felipe Massa without an 'F duct' aerodynamics aid on his car. Nor was the aerodynamic device on Alonso's car when he emerged soon afterwards, suggesting that the Scuderia, unlike their leading rivals, had decided they are faster without it this weekend.

Turn Five was particularly damp, catching out a number of drivers before Lewis Hamilton became the first big name to break one minute 50 seconds.

For the most part, however, it was a case of gradual improvement until with ten minutes remaining, the teams began to switch from race to qualifying practice runs.

Alonso, coming out of the pit lane, was fortunate not to lose his front wing as Kubica sped past. Vettel's 1.48.350 put him top of the timing charts, but only he was able to significantly improve as traffic became a major factor in the final few minutes.

Bruno Senna spinning his Hispania in the final moments did not help, the resulting yellow flag forcing several drivers to back off flying laps.

Qualifying, it appears, may be as much a question of track management as of downright pace.