Summary

  • Hamilton on pole, Vettel to start at back following engine problem

  • Raikkonen 2nd, Verstappen 3rd

  • Hamilton leads title race by 28 points

  • Race on 5 live and sport website - coverage from 06:30 BST

Live Reporting

  1. Lewis Hamilton at the front of the grid...

    .Getty Images

    ... Sebastian Vettel at the back...

    .Getty Images

    And the prospect of a bit of this...

    ..

    Tomorrow promises to be a fascinating race.

    Race starts at 08:00 BST. Join us for build up from 06:30.

    See you then.

  2. Get Involved

    #bbcf1

    There could be rain tomorrow.

    As if things were not interesting enough as it is...

  3. 'Vettel can take inspiration from me!'

    Jolyon Palmer speaking to BBC Sport: "We were looking like we were going to scrape in but it is what it is and we can only do our best tomorrow.

    "Starting from 12th, we can definitely finish in the top 10 again. Sebastian Vettel can certainly take inspiration from my result last year!"

    Palmer was 19th in qualifying last year and finished 10th.

    .Getty Images

  4. BBC

    So work to do for Sebastian Vettel tomorrow but he's proven before he's capable of getting on podium from the back of the grid.

    He started from last at the 2012 Abu Dhabi GP and went on to finish third. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, retired...

  5. 'A pity'

    Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene spoke to Sky Sports about the engine issue that prevented Sebastian Vettel from getting out for qualifying.

    "It's a pity," he said.

    "Apparently it's an airflow connecting the engine to the turbo."

  6. Wave, Kimi

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  7. 'It is perfect on my birthday'

    Max Verstappen, who qualified third: "It is good for us in qualifying to be in this position. It is a lot of fun. It's also amazing how passionate the crowd are.

    "On my birthday it is perfect to be here and in this position.

    "I don't want to be sandwiched!"

    A cheeky reference to Max getting caught up in a clash with the two Ferraris on the first lap in Singapore.

    .Getty Images

  8. 'There are always areas to improve'

    Kimi Raikkonen, second in qualifying: "Obviously when you get that close it is disappointing.

    "There are always places to improve but you are not always going to get 100% in every race. We will try to do better tomorrow.

    "Lets see what we can do. If you make a good start you will benefit quite a bit from it. We will try to make sure we do the first two corners well and go from there."

  9. 'A real surprise'

    Lewis Hamilton: "This is the best crowd I have ever seen here.

    "We had no idea what was going to happen today. I'm sorry for what happened to Sebastian and it is a real surprise to be up here with these guys.

    "I'm very grateful. The car felt good."

    Lewis HamiltonGetty Images

  10. Onto the track for the post-qualifying interviews and Lewis Hamilton is whipping up the crowd as he runs down alongside the main grandstand. They are loving it.

  11. ..

    Five for Lewis Hamilton in Malaysia - level with Michael Schumacher.

  12. Jack Nicholls
    Radio 5 live Formula 1 commentator

    If you had told Mercedes yesterday in practice, or even this morning, they would have said 'we're not sure about that.'

    But here they are, with Sebastian Vettel starting last.

  13. Qualifying top 10

    1) Hamilton 1:30.076

    2) Raikkonen +0.045

    3) Verstappen

    4) Ricciardo

    5) Bottas

    6) Ocon

    7) Vandoorne

    8) Hulkenberg

    9) Perez

    10) Alonso

  14. 'Incredible!'

    Jack Nicholls
    Radio 5 live Formula 1 commentator

    Lewis HamiltonGetty Images

    Lewis Hamilton has pole position! Sebastian Vettel, his Championship rival will start at the back of the grid!

    Incredible

    Sebastian VettelGetty Images

  15. Oh my, that was close!

    It's a 1:30.121 for Kimi Raikkonen, 0.045s down on Lewis Hamilton.

    I genuinely thought he had it, so did Toto Wolff by the looks of it as well. He breathes a huge sigh of relief as Hamilton's fifth Malaysian Grand Prix is confirmed.

  16. chequered flag

    Chequered flag

    Lewis Hamilton secures pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

    Lewis HamiltonReuters

  17. Lewis Hamilton can't improve, will his first lap be enough...?

  18. But then Kimi Raikkonen goes even quicker.

    The Finn is just ahead of Lewis Hamilton heading into the final sector of the lap...

  19. Lewis Hamilton is fastest of all through the middle sector...

  20. 'Nobody better'

    Mark Gallagher
    BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

    Lewis Hamilton just delivers for them. They give him the car and he rises to the challenge and frankly, there is nobody better.

    Lewis HamiltonEPA