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With 15 minutes to go, here's a reminder of how today will work. There are three stages to qualifying - Q1, Q2 and Q3.

In Q1 drivers have 18 minutes to clock a fast time. The five slowest cars are eliminated once time runs out and will start the race in the final five places on the grid.

In Q2 times are reset and the remaining cars participate in a 15-minute session with the aim of recording a time that will secure their place in the top 10. The five slowest cars are eliminated and fill places 11 to 15 on the grid.

For the final part of qualifying, Q3, times are once again reset and the remaining cars have 12 minutes to clock their fastest possible time as they compete for pole position for the race, as well as the remaining nine places on the grid.

Courtland Adams: With a little luck. I see them coming close, around P11/12. Sauber had better watch out!

David Morgan: Possibly not, but getting into Q2 would be a massive step in the right direction.

Ben: With a mighty sector 3 I think there's always a chance. Alonso is renowned for getting everything out of the car, so why not?

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

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"It's a glorious spring day in Montmelo, and anticipation is mounting at the Circuit De Barcelona Catalunya ahead of what should be a fascinating qualifying session.

"After Mercedes dominated Friday practice, the world champions appeared totally in control of the weekend, but the picture looks somewhat different after final practice this morning. Sebastian Vettel split the Mercedes, less than 0.2secs off pace-setter Nico Rosberg, and Lewis Hamilton had a huge spin at Turn Three, avoiding the wall, but ripping a hole through the tread to the structure of his front left Pirelli underneath, narrowly avoiding tearing the tyre apart. Mercedes suddenly look a lot less serene.

"The Ferrari is good in high-speed corners, and is gentle on its tyres, a great strength at this demanding track. And the red car has tweaks to virtually every aerodynamic surface here. So Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen should be strong in theory. But Mercedes always seem to have that bit extra in qualifying."

The McLaren's new livery looks pretty swish but have you had a closer look at the updated car? If not, let Tom Clarkson talk you through it.

While we are it, why not check out our feature on Formula 1's best colour schemes, as voted for by you in our vote during practice on Friday.

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Williams have the largest and smallest pole margins in history at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Nigel Mansell holds the record for the former after securing pole in 1992 by 1.005s, while Pastor Maldonado has the latter, his pole in 2012 beating Ferrari's Fernando Alonso by just 0.017s.

John Howard: Hamilton... But not fussed if it's Rosberg, Hamilton will school him tomorrow on how to pass a teammate.

Max Baggins-Craig: Hamilton, being best & is more deserved. 1 McLaren in top 10. Verstappen's being suprisingly good, glad to see young'uns have a chance.

Dan Young: It should be Hamilton but going to be close between him Rosberg and Vettel.

Could this prove to be a good day for McLaren?

They've endured their worst start to a Formula 1 season but there's certainly been signs of improvement in Spain so far.

Jenson Button was 10th in third practice earlier today, with Alonso 13th, three tenths of a second behind. Button's fastest time was 1.9s off Nico Rosberg's benchmark, but that is considerable improvement on Australia, when he was almost four seconds off Lewis Hamilton's FP3 time.

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Here's a reminder of the standings. The Circuit de Catalunya is one of the hardest on which to overtake, making pole even more important here than at most other circuits.

If Nico Rosberg does fail to out qualify Lewis Hamilton thens save for a retirement for the latter, it is hard not to see Hamilton leaving Spain without his advantage increased.

We've got around 45 minutes until qualifying gets under way so let's be having your predictions. Who's taking pole and why? Can McLaren get into to the top 10? Has anyone surprised you so far in Spain and why?

Get involved via the usual methods, on Twitter #bbcf1,, external text in on 81111 (UK only) or have your say on the BBC Sport Facebook page., external

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Ferrari have the best record in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, having started from the front on seven occasions.

Williams are next with five, ahead of McLaren on four and Benetton, Red Bull and Mercedes on two.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"Nico Rosberg was 0.156 seconds quicker than Sebastian Vettel in final practice with Lewis Hamilton 0.045secs adrift.

"The times suggest a major step forward for Ferrari after Mercedes dominated throughout Friday practice. The relative pace of Mercedes and Ferrari suggests a close battle for pole position when qualifying starts at 13:00 BST."

Read more from Andrew Benson in his report from final practice.

Image source, AFP/GETTY

Welcome to our coverage of qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix.

A cursory glance at the results from the three practice sessions would suggest it is as you were in Formula 1 after a three-week break, with Mercedes once again dominating - Nico Rosberg topping FP1 and FP3, and Lewis Hamilton on top in FP2.

However, Ferrari have brought with them significant updates to Barcelona, and certainly looked on the pace earlier today...

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We may be just five races in, but time is already against Nico Rosberg.

The German trails Lewis Hamilton by 27 points in the championship, an advantage he won't want to see get much bigger, but he has not beaten his Mercedes team-mate in a race or in qualifying this year.

Could that be about to change?

Right then, time to grab a quick bite to eat before we return for qualifying build up at 12:00 BST. Join us again then. See you shortly!

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Historically, securing pole is vital at the Spanish Grand Prix, with eight of the last 10 pole sitters having gone on to take victory.

The two exceptions were Mark Webber in 2011, when he took pole but Red Bull team-mate Sebastian Vettel won the race, and 2013, when Fernando Alonso won for Ferrari after Mercedes' Nico Rosberg had started at the front of the pack.

Who will take pole today? Not too long until we find out, with qualifying getting under way at 13:00 BST.

Fred Owen:, external Rosberg looks on form for a strong qualifying. Want to see him snatch a pole!

Nico Rosberg finishes fastest with 1:26.021, with his team-mate Lewis Hamilton third and Sebastian Vettel splitting the Mercedes. There was not much at all between all three, with just two tenths separating them.

Have Ferrari turned up the wick?