James Allen
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

"A giant bolt of lightening to my left - the storm is getting closer."

It is like a race out there now as everyone looks to bank a time before the rain arrives.

Q2 is under way and there is a queue to get out on track as that lightning draws closer...

16) Nasr 17) Button 18) Alonso 19) Merhi 20) Stevens

1) Hamilton 2) Rosberg 3) Vettel 4) Sainz 6) Grosjean 7) Ericsson 8) Maldonado 9) Raikkonen 10) Ricciardo

11) Massa 12) Kvyat 13) Verstappen 14) Hulkenberg 15) Perez

Lewis Hamilton finishes fastest in the first part of qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix, but both McLarens are eliminated.

The chequered flag will be out in a matter of seconds, can Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button sneak into Q2?

Daniil Kvyat leaps up to eighth with a 1:40.546, so both McLarens, both Manors and Sergio Perez are in danger at the moment.

That lightning we mentioned earlier is getting closer. There's regular flashes in the distance and even the video feed gets interrupted as result.

Daniil Kvyat also needs to find an improvement. He heads in to have mediums bolted on, as does his Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo and back out they come.

Jenson Button locks up at Turn 14 and the McLarens are currently in a spot of bother. Button is 18th while Fernando Alonso is 17th.

A worry also for Manor, with Will Stevens yet to head out.

The Ferraris complete their first runs as Sebastian Vettel slots in third fastest with 1:39.814, while Kimi Raikkonen is fifth fastest.

Roberto Mehri locks up at Turn Four, running off the track as a result before rejoining.

Fifteen of the drivers out on the circuit have put times on the board with eight minutes of the session gone. Lewis Hamilton leads the way with a 1:39.269, a shade quicker than Nico Rosberg.

Former team-mates Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo are out on the harder compound. As I type that, a flash of lightning on the horizon...

James Allen
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

"It would be the tenth time in a row if Mercedes qualify one-two - which would be a new record."

Most look to be out on medium tyres as Nico Hulkenberg is warned over the radio of some showers to the east of the circuit.

Don't forget our extra camera streams are up and running for qualifying, as well as the race. Including driver tracker, pit-lane feed and on-board.

Max Verstappen is the first to break the silence as he takes his Toro Rosso on to the empty circuit. He isn't alone for long as Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button head on out.

The light is green to signal the start of the first part of qualifying. No rush to get out there, though.