Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel topped qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix on Saturday, preventing Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team from equaling the all-time record streaks for pole position.

Vettel took pole by half a second ahead of Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo. The second row of the grid in Sunday's race will follow that pattern, with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in third and Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat fourth.

Hamilton qualified fifth and Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg sixth on the Marina Bay street circuit, which largely negated the team's long-held power advantage.

Hamilton had been going for his eighth straight pole, which would have equaled the record set by his idol Ayrton Senna across the 1988 and 1989 seasons, while Mercedes had been aiming for its 24th in a row, which would have tied the mark set by the Williams team over the 1992 and 1993 seasons.

It was Vettel's first pole position since Brazil in 2013 when he drove for Red Bull, and Ferrari's first since the 2012 German Grand Prix; a gap of 61 races.

"The car was fantastic to drive and just got better through qualifying," Vettel said. "I am surprised by the margin but it just came together and I had a perfect lap at the end."

Mercedes had surprisingly been off the pace throughout Friday's and Saturday's practice sessions, and rivals had suspected the championship's dominant team was hiding its true pace, but qualifying proved the silver cars were indeed struggling.

"It's a surprise," Vettel said. "I thought yesterday they were 'sandbagging' and this morning, because there is no doubt they have the best package this year, but they must have some issues.

"I will not rule them out tomorrow. It's not the easiest place to overtake but if you have the pace, you can come through."

Ricciardo's second place matched his career best but a first pole position still eludes the Australian, who has three race wins. The team had been bullish that its nimble handling would come to the fore through the frequent right-angle corners on the Singapore street circuit, where sheer engine power is not as important.

"It's definitely our best chance," Ricciardo said. "Today has really backed up the confidence I had in the car and the team had coming here."

Williams drivers Valtteri Bottas and Feliple Massa qualified seventh and ninth, with Toro Rosso teenager Max Verstappen in eighth and Lotus driver Romain Grosjean 10th.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso qualified 12th, which was the best Saturday performance this season by a McLaren-Honda driver. (k)

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