A Sauber one-two at the top of the timesheet as Felipe Nasr goes quickest with 1:25.851, putting him 0.1s ahead of Marcus Ericsson.

Lewis Hamilton is coming round and should get a time that will see him comfortably into Q2.

Pascal Wehrlein gets things up and running with a 1:26.148 as Lewis Hamilton emerges from the pits. He's got softs on, as has everyone else apart from Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg, with hards on the Force Indias. 

Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Here's the guys in the 5 live sports extra commentary box and it looks like Tom Clarkson is about to take a scoop out of Jack Nicholls' famed tiramisu. 

You can listen to their commentary online right now.

Qualifying is under way!

Pascal Wehrlein is the first out on the track, Rio Haryanto following him soon after.

Jack Nicholls
Radio 5 live Formula 1 commentator

"Twenty-three of the 25 Spanish grands prix have been won from the front of the grid. That's how important this qualifying session is."

There's hundreds of people sunning themselves up on the grassy banks around the track while the drivers get themselves ready to climb into the cars.

Qualifying gets under way in TWO minutes.

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, Getty Images

A third pole position of the season would put Nico Rosberg in prime position to join two great names of the sport in winning the first five races of the season.

Anyone following this page from the very beginning this morning will have had a bit of a surprise over breakfast, a picture of former Formula 1 driver Heikki Kovalainen sitting naked by a lake. 

The world can breathe a sigh of relief because he has put some clothes on now and gone mountainbiking. Good man, Heikki.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Barcelona

“There is some cloud building over the Pyrenees to the north, but nothing that will threaten the Circuit de Catalunya and it is a gorgeous day in the Valles region to host a fascinating qualifying session in what is rapidly becoming a gripping season. 

"Lewis Hamilton is up against it, there is no doubt about that, not just in the championship but over this weekend specifically. Nico Rosberg seems to have an edge here and it will take a special performance for Hamilton to beat him in qualifying. It’s all adding up to a delicious atmosphere in a busy, buzzing paddock.”

Anyone else out there enjoying the Spanish sun? 

Send us your pictures to #bbcf1, external

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Barcelona

“One of the least surprising aspects of this weekend has been Red Bull taking the first opportunity they had to bad-mouth the new engine deal agreed between the manufacturers and the FIA on lowering costs, trying to make performance converge and guaranteeing supply. 

"Christian Horner described the agreement as ‘very soft’, adding: ‘It tickles the price, deals a little bit with convergence and the obligation to supply doesn’t really apply.’ Sitting next to him, Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff was briefly lost for words, saying: ‘I just want to digest what I just heard in the last five minutes,’ a reference also to his own customer, Bob Fernley of Force India, saying they team would ‘reserve their position’ and not comment. 

"Wolff went on to defend the agreement. And as far as Red Bull is concerned, the reality is it seems they are on the verge of committing to a new contract with Renault for 2017.” 

Image source, EPA

Max Verstappen has slipped into the Red Bull like they were well-worn comfy trainers so far this weekend. 

He was faster than his new team-mate Daniel Ricciardo in final practice, beating him 0.097s. 

One to watch in qualifying.