Kristine Kirby: Lewis getting 2 gifts in a row, & where Malaysia was the end of title hopes last year, this year the race that almost gives him WDC?

Stuart Downward: Why didn't they swap Vettel to Räikkönens car?

"This lap will be a mess," says Fernando Alonso, who finds himself stuck in a bit of a traffic.

Not feeling optimistic then.

Image source, Getty Images

Kimi Raikkonen and Max Verstappen stay in the pits but everyone else is heading back out for another lap.

Rod Peel: How do Mercedes manage to drag the performance out of the fire of the FP sessions?

Vaishach: Rosnery spun out in last year’s opening lap and still finished decent! Let’s see tomorrow.

Sebastian Vettel speaking to Sky Sports: "Unfortunately we won't be able to do it but I hope Kimi will. It was a bad day but the race is tomorrow.

"We need to see now what the problem is but we managed to do the change in time. It was a miracle and the guys were amazing.

"It was a shame that I couldn't get it out."

Image source, Reuters

Credit to Sebastian Vettel. He's handling the situation well in his interviews with the media at the moment, keen to praise the efforts of his team rather than lament his misfortune.

In danger of being eliminated are:

11) Vandoorne

12) Perez

13) Sainz

14) Gasly

15) Stroll

1) Raikkonen

2) Verstappen

3) Hamilton

4) Bottas

5) Ricciardo

6) Ocon

7) Hulkenberg

8) Massa

9) Alonso

10) Palmer

Jack Nicholls
Radio 5 live Formula 1 commentator

Max Verstappen is in front of the Mercedes as well.

This gives us a great example of the speed of the cars and at the moment Ferrari and Red Bull are quicker than Mercedes.

There has been incredible drama in this first part of qualifying.

Image source, Getty Images

Birthday boy Max Verstappen nudges Lewis Hamilton down to third, going second quickest with 1:30.931.

Sebastian Vettel may be out of the picture but Hamilton still has a fight on his hands for pole.

Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

Kimi Raikkonen is carrying the hopes of that Ferrari team and the hopes of his team-mate as really, he has it in his hands to give the team a pole position.

Image source, Getty Images

Kimi Raikkonen is faster than anyone through the first two sectors... and is quicker than Lawis Hamilton, clocking 1:30.926.

Lewis Hamilton's first flier in this part of qualifying puts him top of the order. He crosses the line in 1:31.009.

Image source, Getty Images

Dark clouds about the circuit now. There's about a 20% chance of rain falling.

Benjamin Lee: After last year's race Lewis won't be counting his chickens till he's mathematically safe, this can all turn on a dime tomorrow.

PhilSlocombe: Vettel will be angry and probably have a red mist moment in the race as he tries to barge his way through from last.

Rachel T: Two miracles in a row for Lewis?

Lewis Hamilton, Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen are all out on track. All with super-softs on.

Alberto Antonini, Ferrari press officer: "The reason for it we will have to investigate. We have to know exactly whether it was something wrong with the settings or something else.

"Unfortunately we don't have an answer for you."

Image source, Getty Images

Top work by Jolyon Palmer, who was faster than his Renault team-mate Nico Hulkenberg in Q1. Will he keep it up in Q2?

The 15 minutes of the second part of qualifying is under way.

Jack Nicholls
Radio 5 live Formula 1 commentator

As if the crash in Singapore wasn't enough, this was a double whammy for Sebastian Vettel.

What a moment in the Formula 1 Championship.

He could leave here now 45 points behind Lewis Hamilton.

Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

There is just this look of amazement because look how off the pace Mercedes were yesterday?

Now it's Sebastian Vettel who is up against it. It's just incredible. Very painful.