A British carrier force changes the Singapore counterattack

Would a Royal Navy carrier force at Singapore in late 1941 force Japan to abandon or delay its war plan?

It would make the southern operation much harder and could delay it, but Japan might still pursue Pearl Harbor before reinforcing the campaign against Singapore.

Removing Italy from the war would preserve British carriers, tankers, merchant shipping, and capital ships otherwise consumed by Mediterranean operations. British fleet air defence might lose some hard-won Mediterranean experience, although exercises and operations elsewhere could refine prewar methods. Japanese aircraft attacking such a force near Singapore would face radar-directed fighters and a coordinated defence, then leave amphibious shipping vulnerable to counterattack. Japan would probably delay the southern thrust until carriers returning from Pearl Harbor could be rearmed and redeployed. Its leadership might still strike Pearl Harbor first, then redirect carriers south.