Fernando Alonso has described Ferrari's performance in qualifying for the Singapore Grand Prix as "sad" after the Spaniard only managed seventh on the grid.

Alonso, whose future at the Italian team has been in question in recent weeks after comments he made, questioned if the updates being added to the car were really working.

He told reporters: "I think we need to be realistic and not be happy at all with the performance we did here.

"We did the maximum bringing new parts to this race, they work in a way, but maybe not enough.

"We tried many things, we made many changes last night and today and the car was a little easier to drive."

Alonso currently trails Sebastian Vettel in the Drivers' Championship by 53 points, with the German starting in pole position for Sunday's race.