Five minutes to go until qualifying gets under way. You can listen to audio commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports and online right now.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Interlagos

On a very esoteric subject, there is a bit of a kerfuffle at the moment about whether cars will have engine fins next season. These were met with consternation at the beginning of the season, although the debate over their aesthetics has quietened considerably now. A new rule was agreed sometime ago that closed the loophole that allowed them this year. But now most of the teams want them back.

McLaren, though, have done a U-turn, and are now blocking an attempt to re-write the rules, and without unanimity, the rule will stay the same. Racing director Eric Boullier said: "Maybe we found another way to use the engine cover which works better. We are not playing but everyone is developing their own car. If you find something that is against your interests, I will not go for it.”

Chance of rain currently stands at 30% with 15 minutes to go until qualifying.

We've had reports of the odd bit of drizzle but it looks pretty dry at the moment.

Philip Stewart: Paul Di Resta, only thing against him is his height other than that he's got to be the best option

Mark Smyth: Mick Schumacher can only hope at some point someone gives him the chance

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Interlagos

This weekend is proving one of political intrigue, following as it does the announcement by the FIA and F1 of their engine proposal for 2021 - which Mercedes, Renault and Ferrari are not happy about - and a meeting of the F1 strategy group on Tuesday.

Not a great deal appears to have moved in reality, but there is a lot of positioning going on, and it is important to see the engine debate within the wider context of the financial situation in F1 and the new commercial deal that needs to be struck between the teams and F1 post-2020, when most of their contracts run out.

There is clearly a game of brinksmanship going on, and news in a series of financial results from F1 owners Liberty that the teams’ total payments have gone done year on year for the third quarter from $316m to $273m following the takeover is hardly likely to endear the sport’s new bosses to the teams. It looks set to run and run, for months if not years as F1 heads towards the end of the current contract period. In particular, teams are admitting to a growing sense of unease about Liberty’s handling of their new asset.

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Not long to go until qualifying gets under way.

Who do you think will take pole position? Make your top three predictions here.

Who do you think Williams should go for?

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Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Interlagos

Image source, Getty Images

The saga over Williams’ driver choice for 2018 rumbles on.

Robert Kubica remains the number one choice but the team still have nagging doubts about his physical capabilities and speed. The Pole is now set to drive the car again at the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. If his performance there reassures Williams, they will sign Kubica to partner Lance Stroll. The number two option is said now to be Daniil Kvyat, who was finally dropped by Red Bull last month, with Sauber’s Pascal Wehrlein an outside bet.

Reserve driver Paul Di Resta looks to have pretty much completely dropped out of the reckoning, not that he was ever really near the forefront of Williams’ wish list.

In case you missed this earlier, A van of Mercedes workers was held up at gunpoint on the road away from the Interlagos track last night.

"Gun shots fired, gun held at one's head. This is so upsetting to hear," said Lewis Hamilton.

"It happens every single year here. F1 and the teams need to do more. No excuse."

No-one was hurt in the incident.

Nico Hulkenberg will welcome the chance of a wet qualifying in Brazil. His solitary career pole position to date came in such conditions at the circuit back in 2010, when he was driving for Williams.

Image source, Getty Images

Qualifying gets under way at 16:00 GM - 50 minutes from now - and there's lots of work going on in the Williams garage. Lance Stroll's car came to a stop early on in final practice and the issue has resulted in him needing an engine and gearbox change.

Stroll is set to take a five-place grid penalty for tomorrow's race.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer at Interlagos

Light rain at Interlagos with an hour to go. Seems to be getting heavier.

Valtteri Bottas finished just 0.003 seconds quicker than Lewis Hamilton in final practice with Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel third and fourth quickest respectively.

The top four were separated by just 0.058s.

Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

On the evidence of what we have seen this morning if we had this practice session again there is every chance it would have finished in a different order, it was that close.

Too little to choose between Mercedes and Ferraris.

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome back!

After a day dominated by Lewis Hamilton on Friday it was Valtteri Bottas' turn to top the timesheet in final practice.

Ferrari, though, were close. So close, you could throw a hat on the two teams.

Here's hoping for more of the same in qualifying.

Mercedes lead the way in practice but it was much closer than on Friday. It sets things up for a potentially interesting qualifying session.

We're going to take a brief break but will be back at 15:00 GMT for build up to qualifying at 16:00. Join us then. Fancy some reading for the next 50 minutes or so? Check out the below.

• F1 'needs to do more' to keep teams safe, says Lewis Hamilton
• Predict who will top qualifying in Brazil
• Can we ever really compare F1 greats?

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Valterri Bottas pipped Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton by just 0.003 seconds in final practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel were next as the top four were separated by just 0.058secs.

Red Bull struggled, Max Verstappen, winner of two of the last four races, ninth after a spin and Daniel Ricciardo fifth and 0.9secs off the pace.

But there was a strong performance from McLaren's Fernando Alonso in sixth.

Read Andrew Benson's full report here

Here's the final timing screen from final practice.

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