Vettel claims Singapore pole to pile pressue on Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton faces a tall order to retain the lead of the Formula One championship after he qualified a lowly fifth for Sunday's Singapore Grand Prix as his rival Sebastian Vettel stormed to pole position.

Vettel, who trails Hamilton by three points in the title race, fended off the challenge from the rampant Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo to seal the front spot by one-third of a second.