David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator on BBC One

"Max Verstappen was born into this. He doesn't know any different. Forget about age, the talent is there."

Eddie Jordan
BBC F1 chief analyst on BBC One

"I can't tell you how great I think Max Verstappen can be. I put him up there with Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna, that is how great he can be. The world is at this guy's feet."

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Sepang

"Kimi Raikkonen was an unhappy man after qualifying down in 11th because he got caught up in traffic, and team principal Maurizio Arrivabene and he had strong words afterwards.

"Raikkonen was late out because the engine would not start, and after the Finn had complained over the radio about the timing of his release, Arrivabene commented publicly that perhaps his driver might have tried to pass the Sauber that had held him up before he started his qualifying lap.

"Arrivabene has presented a pleasant, approachable image to the media since his appointment, but there is clearly steel within."

Image source, Red Bull Racing Spy

Red Bull Racing Spy:, external Embarrassment at Sepang when organisers realise grand prix double-booked with Action Man convention…

As a result of that, here is the 19-car grid:

1 Hamilton 2) Vettel 3) Rosberg 4) Ricciardo 5) Kvyat 6) Verstappen 7) Massa 8) Bottas 9) Ericsson 10) Grosjean

11) Raikkonen 12) Maldonado 13) Hulkenberg 14) Perez 15) Sainz 16) Nasr 17) Button 18) Alonso 19) Mehri

Will Stevens failed to get out in qualifying for Manor on Saturday because of a fuel system problem but he was given special dispensation by stewards to take part in today's race.

Bad news, though, Manor confirm he will not be racing, tweeting:, external "Sadly Will is unable to start today's race as we have not been able to get on top of the fuel system problem from yesterday."

David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator on BBC One

"The battle out front is going to be interesting, especially with the threat of rain too. There are lots of strategic factors here which will make it a very different race to Melbourne."

Despite the ever-looming threat of a deluge of rain in Malaysia, there have been just two safety car deployments in the last 10 years.

Image source, Getty Images

The 2009 Malaysia Grand Prix was one of only five races in Formula 1 history for which half-points were awarded.

A torrential rainstorm caused the race to be red-flagged on lap 31 and, because of the race starting at 5pm local time, darkness meant it could not be restarted. This year's race starts at 3pm local time.

Isaac Mares: Ferrari can challenge Mercedes only in the sense of 'best of the rest.' Only Mercedes can beat Mercedes until F1 returns to Europe.

Dawnothy: It's nearly F1 time, let's hope for a bit of rain to spice things up! C'mon #Vettel

Ads: Urgh, too early for a Sunday & after the clocks have gone forward too. Better be a good race now!

Image source, Mercedes

Mercedes: Staring down the Malaysia GP barrel...ONE HOUR TO GO!!!!

Breakfast with The Chain? Don't mind if I do!

Build up to the Malaysian Grand Prix is under way on BBC One right now as well as BBC Radio 5 live, with the race getting under way at 08:00 BST.

You can also watch and listen online on this page (at the top for desktop users or via the live coverage tab for followers on mobiles and tablets).

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Sepang

"The McLarens were again the slowest cars - other than the barely-running Manors - but the team were buoyed by a dramatic step forwards in the two weeks since Melbourne. There, they were 1.5secs away from getting out of first qualifying; here, it was 0.6secs. Jenson Button said the gap to Mercedes had come down by around 1.6s, once tyres were taken into account. 'Everything is going in the right direction but there is still a long way to go,' Button said.

"Fernando Alonso was quicker all weekend over a single lap, but a mistake in Turn Six on his final run meant Button was able to sneak ahead by 0.11secs. 'I lost the car in Turn Six and it cost me some 10ths and unfortunately I could not improve the lap time I did before,' said the Spaniard, who had never driven more than five consecutive laps in the car before arriving in Malaysia. 'I need to learn from these first days in the car and mistakes and put some good laps together in the race and have some action. I think we can fight with some cars in front so it is going to be interesting.'

"Racing director Eric Boullier said the progress was down to being less conservative with the engine, although the troublesome hybrid system is still turned well down."

Image source, Getty Images

Is Fernando Alonso playing the long game?

With Ferrari looking competitive and McLaren struggling, the Spaniard's decision to switch teams looks to have been the wrong one. Or was it?

While Ferrari could well challenge for podiums this season, race wins might be a little harder to come by and Alonso believes McLaren offer him the best chance of actually challenging Mercedes for victories.

"You need to take a lot of risk and go your own way," he says. "This is a long term project that in the end sees us beating Mercedes."

Max Verstappen, speaking during the drivers' parade: "Of course it will be warm but once you start driving it settles down. It is more when you stop that you feel the heat. It will be difficult to finish on the podium, but with the pace that we have then I'm sure we can, we have to wait and see. I'm here to score points."

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Sepang

"There was a star performance in qualifying from Max Verstappen, the 17-year-old Dutchman lining up sixth for Toro Rosso, just 0.03secs from beating Daniil Kvyat's Red Bull for fifth.

"'I was really happy that it started to rain in Q2 so that I had the chance in Q3 in the wet,' Verstappen said. 'That's what I like and I was very confident that it would be a good qualifying.' Why does he like the wet, he was asked? 'In Holland it rains a lot so I'm used to driving in the rain and I'm very confident in the rain, he said. 'The car is also working perfectly; it gives you a lot of confidence and you can push.'

"Team-mate Carlos Sainz had actually had the edge on pace throughout the weekend, but a mistake when it mattered left him down in 15th - he locked up at Turn 14. 'I'm a bit disappointed with myself,' the Spaniard said. 'The runs in FP3 and Q1 were amazing, I showed great speed, and then I did the mistake in Q2. It's tough to take. It was a rookie mistake.'"

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen was arguably the standout performer in qualifying as he pulled a stonking lap out of the bag to qualifying in sixth and, after becoming the youngest driver to start a Formula 1 race in Australia, he produced another landmark achievement on Saturday.

He has the highest qualifying position by a teenage driver in 54 years and can become the youngest points scorer in F1 history if he finishes inside the top 10 today.

He could also make history for his team, Toro Rosso, who have never finished higher than eighth in Malaysia.

Image source, Mercedes

Mercedes: Best fans out in force once again at the Sepang Circuit! Thanks for coming out folks! You guys rock!

Image source, Getty Images

The first Malaysian Grand Prix, back in 1999, was certainly an eventful one.

Half of the 22-car field failed to finish as Eddie Irvine secured victory to boost his hopes of winning the world title.

Irvine's Ferrari team-mate Michael Schumacher had started on pole but let Irvine through before going on to harry Mika Hakkinen - only two points ahead of Irvine in the championship.

Ferrari secured a one-two but were disqualified for illegal bodywork, a decision that was later overturned on appeal.