Postpublished at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Image source, Force IndiaForce India: Ominous clouds over Sepang - it's not really a matter of "if" but of "when" the rain will fall...
Summary
Hamilton on pole, Vettel 2nd, Rosberg 3rd
Rosberg blocks Hamilton on fast lap
Torrential rain and thunderstorms delay session
Raikkonen out in Q2 as rain arrives, Hamilton just makes Q3 in 8th
Both McLarens and Manors out in Q1
Relive P3 & Qualifying in 'Live Coverage' tab
Postpublished at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Image source, Force IndiaPostpublished at 08:58 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
The drivers are getting strapped into the cars and we are two minutes away from the first part of qualifying getting under way.
Malaysia memories - 2010published at 08:54 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Image source, Getty ImagesIt was a wet qualifying session in 2010 as Mark Webber of Red Bull secured pole position. His team-mate Sebastian Vettel, having started third on the grid, won the race.
Postpublished at 08:52 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter"The temperature is dropping like a stone and the wind direction has changed."
Postpublished at 08:52 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
How's that 90% chance of thunderstorms in Sepang looking? There's certainly some darker clouds in the sky...
Ten minutes to gopublished at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
David Coulthard is making a dash to the commentary box now which can mean only one thing - qualifying is on the horizon, 10 minute warning people.
Experience counts?published at 08:49 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 08:48 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Sepang"McLaren have made dramatic progress in the two weeks since the first race of the season in Australia. There, they were five seconds off the pace and 1.5secs off getting out of the first part of qualifying. Here, at least one of them appears to have a decent chance of making it into Q2.
"Fernando Alonso has had a distinct edge on Jenson Button over one lap this weekend and in final practice he was 0.321secs ahead of the Englishman and 15th - one place higher than the Q1 cut-off. It's going to be close, though. Alonso split the Force Indias and was only 0.108secs ahead of Sergio Perez. Can he or Button do it?"
Postpublished at 08:47 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Image source, McLarenA bigger travesty than McLaren's poor performances so far in 2015 surely has to be Jenson Button's moustache. Shave it off man!
He is speaking on BBC One right now and it will be interesting to see how he and Fernando Alonso get on in qualifying today.
Postpublished at 08:45 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator in Sepang"Mercedes have a programme that is pre-determined. There is a certain amount of analysis they will want to get through - race set-up and fuel runs etc - and he have lost some of that information. He has not had the benefit of building up the knowledge which might not only have an impact on qualifying but the race long runs too. He may be starting on a backfoot and it will be interesting to see what the shoot-out brings us."
Postpublished at 08:44 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Lewis Hamilton was fasted in Friday practice but arguably did not have as much time in the Mercedes as he would have liked. He completed just four laps in the morning session before heading out 40 minutes into the second session.
Will limited track time have an impact on his performance in qualifying today?
Postpublished at 08:41 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Eddie Jordan
BBC F1 chief analyst on BBC One
"There is a spring in the step in this Ferrari, the car looks great and we need a car that will fight against the Mercedes. We are all wishing and hoping it can be these boys."
Postpublished at 08:39 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live analyst in Sepang on BBC One"If Ferrari are able to convert the clear speed they had this morning into qualifying then they can use the long run pace and then I think they don't have to look back at the Williams they can look ahead to the Mercedes. Ferrari, for me, have looked strong."
Get involved #bbcf1published at 08:38 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Daisy Adde: Hamilton, Rosberg and Alonso top 3.
Lewis Thompson: 1. HAM 2. ROS 3. VET
VXR: P1 Rosberg P2 Hamilton hmmm P3 Raikkonen
Postpublished at 08:35 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Image source, MercedesMercedes: TV stars outside, buzz saw symphony inside... qualifying approaches!
Postpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Image source, WilliamsSome interesting stats courtesy of Williams about the human challenge of racing in Malaysia. Good job so much rain falls in the country given how much of the stuff teams go through!
Malaysia memories - 2002published at 08:29 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Image source, Getty ImagesMichael Schumacher secured pole at the Malaysian Grand Prix in each of the first four grands prix at Sepang. Pictured here in 2002, he lost out on victory at the race to his younger brother, Ralf.
Manor to make it?published at 08:29 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
There will be some nervous faces in the Manor garage as they prepare for their first qualifying session of 2015. They need their drivers, Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi, to get inside 107% of the fastest time. They were not able to do that in third practice and if they fail in qualifying, it will be up to the stewards to decide if they can participate in Sunday's race.
Postpublished at 08:25 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Image source, SauberAn interesting tweet from Sauber, external of their F1 car cut in half.
Get involved #bbcf1published at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 28 March 2015
Bibhash Dash:, external Would love to see Kimi steal pole. Deserves a good race. Perhaps unlikely but Kimi, Hamilton and Ricciardo. Too much to ask?