Summary

  • Rosberg takes pole ahead of Hamilton

  • Vettel 3rd, Bottas 4th, Sainz 5th

  • Hamilton top in Q1, Rosberg tops Q2

  • Lotuses, McLarens, Nasr out in Q2

  • Manors, Force Indias, Ericsson out in Q1

  1. Postpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Can Nico Rosberg convert pole into a much needed victory on Sunday? Or will Lewis Hamilton step it up and storm to another win?

    We'll be back on Sunday at 11:30 BST with all the build-up, with the Spanish Grand Prix getting under way at 13:00.

    Until then, goodbye.

  2. Postpublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    OK, it is almost time for us to wrap things up. I'll leave you with Andrew Benson's report from qualifying, and keep an eye online for the video highlights.

  3. Postpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Toro Rosso as a whole were superb. Aside from Carlos Sainz qualifying fifth, his team-mate Max Verstappen will start from sixth on Sunday, ahead of both Red Bulls.

    Their performance is all the more impressive when you consider that they are apparently not introducing, external any major upgrades until the Austrian GP...

  4. Special for Sainzpublished at 14:39 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Carlos Sainz juniorImage source, EPA

    A special mention also for Carlos Sainz, who produced his best ever qualifying performance with fifth and, to top it, off he has done it at his home race.

    "It's something special," he said. "Dreaming is free, no? A P5 tomorrow will be very difficult but we'll try our best."

    Sainz, of course, is the son of former World Rally champion Carlos Sainz.

    Carlos Sainz seniorImage source, AP
  5. Deja vupublished at 14:36 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Formula 1Image source, Getty Images

    Incidentally, the top three from qualifying from that race weekend [see 14:35] was the exact same as today - Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

  6. Stats good to knowpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    The percentages are in Nico Rosberg's favour for Sunday's race. Since the first race at Circuit de Catalunya in 1991, 92% of the races on the circuit have been won from the front row, with 18 of those wins from pole and four from second.

    However, there's one bit of bad news from history for Rosberg. Only two of the last 10 races have not been won from pole. One of those two was in 2013, when Fernando Alonso won after Rosberg had started on pole.

  7. Get involved - #bbcf1published at 14:34 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Grant Kennett: Interesting to see if Vettel can hound the notoriously wider Merc of Lewis in the same way he has Rosberg's.

    Nathan Stewart: Nico needs to save his season and capitalise tomorrow and be in front after the first corner.

    Female-F1: Raikkonen was never a strong qualifier. He's a racer. Can't wait to see Lewis playing catch-up tomorrow, that should be entertaining!

  8. Postpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Formula 1Image source, Formula 1

    Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, who will start from third: "I think disappointed is the wrong word I think it is great for Ferrari to keep confirming how close we are. This is a great race for us it is very nearly a home race for us.

    "You have to say the two guys sat at the side of me (Rosberg and Hamilton) are doing a good job, hopefully tomorrow we can be closer than today but they are doing a good job.

  9. "I didn't do a great job"published at 14:19 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Formula 1Image source, Formula 1

    Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who will start from second: "Nico did a great job. I didn't have the balance where I liked. Tomorrow there's still a lot to play for.

    "I didn't think I was on the back foot, I just didn't have pace today and didn't do a great job."

  10. "A good day in the office"published at 14:17 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    A few more words from Nico Rosberg: "Of course I needed it [pole position] sooner rather than later. It is one step in the right direction to winning the race. It was a good day in the office."

  11. Postpublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Formula 1Image source, Formula 1

    Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, who will start on pole on Sunday: "Strategy is important. It's a big advantage to have new set of used tyres for the race. Overtaking is more difficult around here, so starting in front is a big advantage."

  12. Postpublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Spanish GPImage source, Getty Images

    Starting with the 2007 race, the Spanish Grand Prix has seen eight different winners in the last eight years. Those are: Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Pastor Maldonado, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.

    Can Nico Rosberg continue that trend tomorrow and make it nine different drivers in the last nine years?

  13. Get involved - #bbcf1published at 14:10 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    James Chattaway: Fair play Nico, showing some fight after all.

    Max Baggins-Craig: Great effort from Hamilton, but as we know he's been far better of the two, great interesting race tomorrow, beers chilling...

    Rachel T: Lewis is going to thoroughly enjoy attacking his teammate into turn one tomorrow.

  14. Postpublished at 14:10 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    f1Image source, F1

    That's Nico Rosberg's first pole position since the final race of last season in Abu Dhabi.

    Rosberg will be hoping one aspect of his season continues tomorrow - he has finished every race in the position he has started in this year...

  15. The gridpublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    1) Nico Rosberg 2) Lewis Hamilton 3) Sebastian Vettel 4) Valtteri Bottas 5) Carlos Sainz 6) Max Verstappen 7) Kimi Raikkonen 9) Felipe Massa 10) Daniel Ricciardo

    11) Romain Grosjean 12) Pastor Maldonado 13) Fernando Alonso 14) Jenson Button 15) Felipe Nasr 16) Marcus Ericsson 17) Nico Hulkenberg 18) Sergio Perez 19) Will stevens 20) Roberto Merhi

  16. Postpublished at 14:04 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Superb from Nico Rosberg as he takes the fight to Lewis Hamilton, denying the Briton a fifth successive pole position and giving himself a shot in the arm in the title race.

    Hamilton qualifies second with Sebastian Vettel third.

    Spanish GP qualifyingImage source, AFP/GETTY
  17. Pole positionpublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    fORMULA 1Image source, Getty Images

    NICO ROSBERG TAKES POLE POSITION FOR THE SPANISH GRAND PRIX.

  18. First qualifying endspublished at 14:01 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Nico Rosberg is pushing as the chequered flag comes out, but it looks like he has done enough to out qualify his team-mate for the first time this season...

    Nico RosbergImage source, AFP/GETTY
  19. Postpublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Has Lewis Hamilton got anything in his locker? Seconds left of the final part of qualifying...

  20. Postpublished at 13:59 British Summer Time 9 May 2015

    Into the final two minutes and all the top 10 will make their final qualifying runs, with four drivers who didn't head out earlier saving their tyres for the race.