Along with STR, Renault and Toyota must also be seen as strong contenders for solid points-scoring finishes, if not perhaps a little better. Whilst the Régie would appear now to have the upper hand in terms of raw pace – with former double world champion Fernando Alonso coming home a competitive fourth in three of the last four outings – the Enstone-based outfit is somewhat hampered by the inability of Nelsinho Piquet in the sister R28 to get on similar terms, the young Brazilian having scored points on just three occasions from 14 races to Alonso's eight.

That contrasts with Toyota, for whom both Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock are proving to be regular points' challengers, making up for the TF108's dip in performance compared to its French rival by effectively taking on Renault's sole contender Alonso on dual fronts. The squabble over the coveted fourth position in the constructors' rankings looks set to rumble on until season's end – with the rejuvenated STR not to be discounted either should the team maintain its startling recent form – but parent outfit Red Bull Racing looks to be somewhat out of the fight now, the RB4 showing strong qualifying pace in the hands of Mark Webber, but drifting backwards come race day.

Indeed, the energy drinks-backed squad could find itself under attack from Williams over the final four races, with Singapore a track that may favour the Toyota-powered FW30, and the Grove-based concern's star driver Nico Rosberg buoyed by a superb qualifying performance at Monza last time out that saw the young German start from fifth place on the grid – where he would also race, fending off the threat of Massa behind, for the early part of the grand prix.

Down at the back of the order, finally, Force India appear – on Italian form at least – to have overtaken far better-funded rivals Honda on outright pace, with Giancarlo Fisichella finally and popularly achieving the Silverstone-based outfit's first Q2 appearance on home turf at Monza, and racing competitively too until his premature retirement from the grand prix twelve laps in.

Force India chairman Vijay Mallya claims to have been inspired by fellow former backmarkers STR's recent upsurge in form, and his team's advances of late have surely embarrassed Honda, whose 2008 campaign has been consigned to the scrapbooks as 'one to forget' – with the big budget Japanese manufacturer proclaiming the age-old mantra…Roll on next year.

For F1's 20 drivers, however, there is only one thought on their minds as the glitziest sport on the planet prepares to go one step more glamorous still. Roll on Singapore!

by Russell Atkins