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Mark Webber left it way late but eventually led the way in opening free practice for the Singapore F1 GP on Friday.
The Australian championship leader clocked 1min54.589 on a drying and floodlit Marina Bay track that followed an afternoon downpour that had most of the leading teams hanging on for the weather to improve.
He edged out Michael Schumacher by 0.119sec as the seven-times World champion led a trio of Germans around the tight and demanding course.
Force India's Adrian Sutil recorded a third-fastest time of 1min54.827 while Webber's team mate Sebastian Vettel completed 12 laps to score fourth with 1min55.137.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said later: "Unlike others, Webber and Vettel don't need to do a whole lot of laps to learn the track; we’re just waiting for conditions to improve a little bit.
“I think all the teams have brought something a bit new here this weekend, we have done likewise.
"It's going to be interesting to see how that pans out... it's going to be fascinating to see whose cars and drivers suit this circuit."
Button far faster
Last season's winner Lewis Hamilton, second in the standings and five points behind Webber, arrived in Singapore with a host of upgrades on his McLaren and only completed nine laps before finishing the session down in 18th.
The Briton's team mate and reigning World champion Jenson Button showed far more speed to clock a sixth-fastest 0.744sec off the pace, just behind Jaime Alguersuari's Toro Rosso.
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: “We've got a range of upgrades here... we can see that Red Bull's got a new rear wing; everyone is pushing hard. This is a fantastic championship campaign and frankly, Ferrari, Red Bull and ourselves could all win.
"The team that wins will be the one that improves the car the most and doesn't make mistakes. We fully believe we can win both championships."
The Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa finished 11th and 19th respectively.
The Australian championship leader clocked 1min54.589 on a drying and floodlit Marina Bay track that followed an afternoon downpour that had most of the leading teams hanging on for the weather to improve.
He edged out Michael Schumacher by 0.119sec as the seven-times World champion led a trio of Germans around the tight and demanding course.
Force India's Adrian Sutil recorded a third-fastest time of 1min54.827 while Webber's team mate Sebastian Vettel completed 12 laps to score fourth with 1min55.137.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said later: "Unlike others, Webber and Vettel don't need to do a whole lot of laps to learn the track; we’re just waiting for conditions to improve a little bit.
“I think all the teams have brought something a bit new here this weekend, we have done likewise.
"It's going to be interesting to see how that pans out... it's going to be fascinating to see whose cars and drivers suit this circuit."
Button far faster
Last season's winner Lewis Hamilton, second in the standings and five points behind Webber, arrived in Singapore with a host of upgrades on his McLaren and only completed nine laps before finishing the session down in 18th.
The Briton's team mate and reigning World champion Jenson Button showed far more speed to clock a sixth-fastest 0.744sec off the pace, just behind Jaime Alguersuari's Toro Rosso.
McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh said: “We've got a range of upgrades here... we can see that Red Bull's got a new rear wing; everyone is pushing hard. This is a fantastic championship campaign and frankly, Ferrari, Red Bull and ourselves could all win.
"The team that wins will be the one that improves the car the most and doesn't make mistakes. We fully believe we can win both championships."
The Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa finished 11th and 19th respectively.