The Williams challenge failed to materialise, with Felipe Massa aborting his final run. The Brazilian waves to the crowd as he cruises down the pit lane.

Nico Rosberg takes pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

But Nico Rosberg responds! The German crosses the line 0.033 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton! Just three hundreths!

Lewis Hamilton goes quickest!!!!

Lewis Hamilton locks up on his final run! His challenge for pole position could be over...

Image source, EPA

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen goes seventh fastest, 0.9 seconds off the pace.

Everyone is out on track. Let's do this.

It's so close at the top! Could we really see a pole for home favourite Felipe Massa? The crowd would go crazy. Three minutes to go.

Image source, Getty Images

Jenson Button goes fifth, ahead of McLaren team-mate Kevin Magnussen. Sebastian Vettel is seventh, ahead of Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo. Neither Ferrari has set a lap, but Kimi Raikkonen has just left the garage.

Mercedes on Twitter, external: Three hundredths! THREE HUNDREDTHS!! @nico_rosberg sneaks under the bar - game on!

Felipe Massa sets the fastest sector of all in the final sector to cross the line just 0.081 seconds behind Nico Rosberg! This is so close! Back to the pits for both Mercedes and Williams before one final run.

Valtteri Bottas is on a very scrappy lap, locking the tyres on a couple of occasions. But the time is still good as he goes third, just 0.13 seconds adrift of pace-setter Nico Rosberg!

Jeremiah, external: Down to 10 cars. Crucial last few minutes with Nico still having the edge. Still hoping Hamilton can turn the tables.

Kieran, external: It's one thing to drive fast and qualify pole, but to be able to race and keep calm under pressure is another.

But it's not good enough as Nico Rosberg pips him with a 1:10.166. Just 0.029 seconds the difference! And Rosberg made a slight mistake in the final corner.

Lewis Hamilton's first effort is an absolute beauty, the Briton clocking a 1:10.195. We're edging ever closer to a 1m09!

Lewis Hamilton is first man out, followed closely by Nico Rosberg.

David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator

"Will Lewis Hamilton have it in him to overcome the one to two tenth deficit he has had to Nico Rosberg so far this weekend? My gut feeling is no, but he doesn't have to be of course. He leads Rosberg by 24 points in the championship."

The time has come. Ten drivers fight over one pole position. Let battle commence.

No sign of rain at Interlagos, with plenty of blue skies peaking through among the clouds...

1) Nico Rosberg 2) Felipe Massa 3) Valtteri Bottas 4) Lewis Hamilton 5) Jenson Button 6) Sebastian Vettel 7) Kimi Raikkonen 8) Daniel Ricciardo 9) Kevin Magnussen 10) Fernando Alonso