11) Esteban Gutierrez 12) Nico Hulkenberg 13) Adrian Sutil 14) Daniil Kvyat

Nico Rosberg finishes quickest in the second part of qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Image source, EPA

Valtteri Bottas goes second quickest, just 0.1 seconds off the pace. He is then bumped down to third as Felipe Massa pops into second, just 0.040 seconds adrift of Nico Rosberg.

However, I question the wisdom of those laps considering those two have to start the race on those tyres. Their rivals Mercedes, meanwhile, were content with their early runs and didn't appear to show their true pace, thus save tyre life.

Esteban Gutierrez, Adrian Sutil, Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat are currently in the drop zone.

Meanwhile, up front, Kimi Raikkonen continues to have the better of Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso for a change. The Finn goes sixth fastest with Alonso eighth.

Valtteri Bottas moves into third with Felipe Massa fourth and Jenson Button, winner here in 2012, fifth. Around four minutes remaining.

Drivers will try not to take the maximum out of the tyres they use to set the fastest time in this session because that is the rubber which they'll start tomorrow's race on.

Felipe Massa pops into third, half a second adrift of pace-setter Nico Rosberg. Kimi Raikkonen is fourth ahead of Fernando Alonso, Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Gutierrez.

Massa's lap was on a used set of soft tyres, so it was a good effort.

The Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton waste little time reasserting their dominance, with Rosberg's 1:10.303 putting him top with Hamilton four tenths adrift.

Image source, Reuters

Time for Q2, folks. Four more drivers given the boot with the times reset once more ahead of the top-10 shoot-out.

Will Allen, external: I would love to see what would happen if Ricciardo was in a Mercedes.

Rian Hoskins, external: Qualifying has not been an issue for Rosberg. However he is getting outclassed in races by Hamilton, who will win on form.

George Taylor, external: I really hope Caterham F1 are able to get the funding they need to stay in the sport.

Good stuff from the Saubers there, both Adrian Sutil and Esteban Gutierrez getting into Q2. Williams looking solid, too, and will be there to pick up the pieces if either Mercedes make a mistake when it matters.

Ferrari: Now the sun is shining on the Interlagos pit-lane, But the risk of having rain before the end of qualifying remains 40%.

Lotus: Well that wasn't what the doctor ordered...

1) Nico Rosberg 2) Lewis Hamilton 3) Felipe Massa 4) Valtteri Bottas 5) Jenson Button 6) Kevin Magnussen 7) Kimi Raikkonen

8) Daniil Kvyat 9) Esteban Gutierrez 10) Fernando Alonso 11) Daniel Ricciardo 12) Nico Hulkenberg 13) Sebastian Vettel 14) Adrian Sutil

15) Romain Grosjean 16) Jean-Eric Vergne 17) Sergio Perez 18) Pastor Maldonado

Nico Rosberg finishes fastest in the first part of qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Felipe Massa looks like best of the rest behind the Mercedes this weekend. The Brazilian pops into third, 0.255 seconds off the pace and two tenths quicker than Williams team-mate Valtteri Bottas in fourth.

Sebastian Vettel hauls himself out of the drop zone, but he's still only 13th. Jean-Eric Vergne, Sergio Perez, Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean are currently in the drop zone. Both Mercedes are in the pits, they will be confident of moving into Q2 with ease.

Pulumo, external: Having Alonso start a quali session with a low battery is like giving him a car without petrol to win! How is this possible?

Jeremiah, external: Looking at 1-2 for Mercedes and a surprise by Lewis. Massa taking 3rd. Possible top 5 for Kimi.

Sebastian Vettel is in a spot of bother here. The reigning world champion is bottom of the timesheets with just four minutes remaining. Pastor Maldonado, Jean-Eric Vergne and Romain Grosjean join him in the drop zone.