It's probably fair to say that a Red Bull is going to be sitting on pole position for tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix.
However, other than the question as to which of the Red Bulls it might be, there is also the question of whether there will be a McLaren alongside and which one.
Clearly, the Milton Keynes and Woking outfits have the edge here and while it is intriguing to watch this mounting battle between the two teams, not forgetting the in-house war at Red Bull, it is the fight for the 'best of the rest' that really captivates.
Despite issues with faulty materials, the Renaults have been looking very good here and looking to build on Vitaly Petrov's fine podium in Melbourne. Then there is Mercedes, whose form is admittedly up and down at the moment, not to mention Sauber.
The big disappointment thus far is Ferrari, with Fernando Alonso already appearing to throw in the towel, certainly in terms of this weekend's race. However, we know from experience that we should never write of the Maranello outfit - just cast your mind back to last season's turnaround.
If 'leagues' one and two are tight, so to is 'league' three, with Williams, Toro Rosso and Force India all slugging it out and Lotus desperate to join in the fun.
The two big question marks both today and tomorrow are tyre wear and the weather. While there is a high chance of a sudden downpour this afternoon, especially in the latter stages of the session, the chances are even greater tomorrow. With the drivers having had virtually no running on the full wets this could mean fun and games.
Dry options are hard (prime) and soft (option) with degradation as high as expected. The performance drop off, particularly with the softs, has caught many drivers by surprise as have the marbles.
While the battle for pole will be as frantic as ever one has to wonder whether certain drivers will focus on tomorrow particularly in terms of the weather.
As the lights turn green to mark the start of Q1, the air temperature is 30 degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees. Humidity is 68 per cent.
Timo Glock is told that the rain clouds that were in the area have moved on and that the entire session should be run in the dry. Famous last words… we shall see.
Liuzzi is first out, the Hispania driver, like his teammate, eager to make the cut and qualify today having failed in Melbourne. Based on the evidence thus far this weekend it's going to be tough for the little Spanish team. Di Resta, Barrichello and D'Ambrosio also on track.
Liuzzi crosses the line at 1:43.128, which based on this morning's times would see the Italian miss the cut. Moments later, di Resta posts 40.334 and D'Ambrosio 41.342.
A 40.157 sees Barrichello go quickest however, Hamilton shatters this with a 37.466. Webber goes second (38.334) only to be almost instantly leapfrogged by Button with a 37.798.
Buemi pops up in third (38.144) but is demoted when Vettel posts a 37.468. Schumacher takes sixth with a 38.983.
There's a large piece of bodywork (the left-hand side of his engine cover) on the track which has flown off Buemi's Toro Rosso, immediately bringing out the red flag.
With the clock stopped at 12:00, it's: Hamilton, Vettel, Alguersuari, Button, Webber, Buemi, Schumacher, Maldonado, Sutil and Barrichello. No times from Rosberg, the Ferraris, Renaults, Saubers or Lotus.
The session is green-flagged after a break of a couple of minutes, Kovalainen and Trulli are first to get back to work. The Finn goes seventh and the Italian ninth. Not bad all things considered, but where will they be at the end of this phase?
Surprisingly, Rosberg can only manage 38.717 which puts him behind Kovalainen. Elsewhere, Massa goes quickest in S1. The Brazilian posts a PB in S2, finally crossing the line at 36.744 to go quickest. Perez posts 38.109 to go eighth.
A 36.897 sees Alonso go quickest as the Renault duo begin their first flying laps. All the main players are on track with less than five minutes remaining.
Kobayashi posts a 36.994 to go third as Perez improves to 37.759, the Mexican showing the same tyre expertise as we saw in Melbourne.
Heidfeld goes fourth but is almost instantly leapfrogged by his Renault teammate who crosses the line at 37.210. Both Williams in the danger zone.
Webber improves his time but remains twelfth, he is off this morning's pace. Elsewhere, Schumacher, in the danger zone, goes quickest in S1. The German had made an early switch to softs. As the seven-time champ posts a PB in S1 his teammate goes quickest in S1. Schumacher goes fourth with a 36.904 as Rosberg posts 37.316 to go ninth.
Maldonado is on a late charge, which, if it works, will demote his teammate into the danger zone, but it doesn't so it doesn't.
All 24 drivers are within the 107% margin as the flag drops however, the main talking point is Webber who makes it into Q2 by the skin of his teeth.
Quickest was Massa, ahead of Hamilton, Alonso, Schumacher, Kobayashi, Button, Petrov, Heidfeld, Rosberg and Vettel.
We lose Maldonado, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, D'Ambrosio, Liuzzi and Karthikeyan however, as we said before, all 24 qualify.
So, based on the evidence of Q1, we have the Ferraris mixing it with the McLarens and the Red Bulls tenth and fifteenth. We have a suspicion that normal Red Bull service will resume in the next ten to fifteen minutes.
The Toro Rossos are first out for Q2 however, Hamilton is another early bird as is Webber.
Buemi sets the benchmark with a 37.975 with his teammate posts a 38.243 moments later. However, a 37.339 sees Hamilton take the top spot.
Webber, surprise, surprise, goes quickest with a 36.080 as Vettel and Button are both on very hot laps. The German crosses the line at an amazing 35.934 only to be beaten by the 2009 champ who posts a 35.569. Game on!
The Ferraris go fourth and fifth as the Mercedes duo begin their first flying laps of the phase. Schumacher can only manage sixth (37.086) while his teammate slots in behind with a 37.170.
Ever the professional, Schumacher asks his team where he stands in terms of making it into Q3. He's advised that he will have to make another run.
With 5:30 on the clock it's clear that the Renaults and Force Indias are going to be making just one run. A risky strategy… unless your name is Vettel or you're in a Red Bull.
Alguersuari goes tenth with a37.347 but he'll have to do better, much better, if he wants to stay in the game.
Petrov continues his amazing turn around in form, the Russian going fourth with a 36.642 while his veteran teammate posts 36.811 to take fifth.
Alonso improves to fourth with a 36.820 as Hamilton goes quickest in S2. The Englishman goes second with a 35.852, 0.3s down on his teammate. Massa, having posted PBs in all three sectors, goes sixth (36.976).
Rosberg goes quickest in S1 as his teammate posts PBs in the first two sectors. Kobayashi goes eighth (36.691), but is demoted when Rosberg posts 36.388 to take sixth which drops Schumacher into the danger zone.
Q2 ends and Button heads a McLaren 1-2. Vettel is third, ahead of Webber, Alonso, Rosberg, Massa, Petrov, Kobayashi and Heidfeld.
We lose Schumacher, Buemi, Alguersuari, di Resta, Barrichello and Perez.
We said that Red Bull and McLaren would be dominating here, but in all honesty we thought the Austrian team would have the edge. Hard to believe that just a couple of weeks ago, much of the media, led by the BBC, was writing off the Woking outfit.
The final shootout gets underway and the four main protagonists are the first out on track. You couldn't script this sort of thing better.
Hamilton sets out his stall with a 35.000 with Button responding with a 35.371. All eyes are on the Red Bull duo but neither are posting purples just PBs. Webber goes second with a 35.268, thereby splitting the McLarens, only to be demoted to third by his Red Bull teammate who crosses the line at 35.122. This is fantastic stuff.
The other six drivers remain in their garages, watching on their monitors, probably as enthralled as we are.
Alonso, Massa, Rosberg, Heidfeld, Kobayashi and Petrov are all on track, and are soon joined by the McLaren and Red Bull drivers.
Alonso goes fifth and Heidfeld sixth but all attention is on the Red Bull and McLarens.
Webber fails to improve while Hamilton improves with a 34.974. However, from out of nowhere, Vettel produces a 34.870 which takes pole at the death. In the Red Bull garage the crew is clearly delighted as is the man himself, "yes, yes woo-hoo!" shouts the world champion.
Almost unseen, Alonso takes fifth, ahead of Heidfeld, Massa, Petrov, Rosberg and Kobayashi.
A classic shot on the TV monitors as Fernando Alonso stares at the timing screen in disbelief. The Spaniard, still wearing his helmet, is faced with the stark truth that his car is a second off the pace.
A fantastic performance from Vettel and Red Bull, but in reality Hamilton, Webber and Button all deserve the plaudits for what was a thrilling session. No doubt Button will be miffed to be around 0.4s off the pace, and down in fourth, but it was, all things considered, a remarkable performance and sets us up nicely for a great fight on Sunday.
As we look forward to tomorrow's race, an eye on tyre wear and the weather, we have to ask Bernie and Jean, why can't Sunday afternoons be as exciting as the last ten minutes of today's session. Then again, could our hearts take it?
