Ahead of today's qualifying session, as opposed to yesterday's, the air temperature is 15 degrees C and the track temperature is 13 degrees. While rain was always predicted for Saturday, Sunday was meant to be dry. It isn't.

It has been raining for much of the night and morning, much of it torrential courtesy of the strong winds. We could be in for a very long day.

Though overall conditions have barely changed since yesterday it does appear that Q2 will begin on time which means we could be in for some major surprises. It has stopped raining but more is expected indeed, as if proof were needed with three minutes to go there is already a queue at the end of the pitlane headed by the Toro Rosso duo. All are shod with Inters.

The lights go green, with not a hint of interference from Charlie Whiting. Within moments there are ten cars on track. Gutierrez watches from the warmth of the Sauber garage - the Mexican one of six eliminated in Q1 yesterday.

On his first flying lap Rosberg goes too deep into T1, as Webber is told that he can use DRS.

Vergne crosses the line at 1:44.573 to get the session underway but this is instantly beaten by Ricciardo and then Rosberg (40.423). Webber goes second and Alonso third, ahead of Raikkonen and Grosjean. Vettel can only manage tenth (43.361).

Bottas posts 55.769 having taken a long, bumpy ride across the gravel. Rosberg ups the ante with a 38.930.

On his second flying lap Vettel posts 38.647 as Alonso goers third and Perez fourth, these conditions a great help to McLaren. Massa, Button and Sutil still in the danger zone.

Vergne continues to impress, the Frenchman posting 39.279 to go fourth, only to be demoted when both Lotus driver improve. Vettel improves yet again, this time posting a 37.640.

Button goes second with a 38.498 as Rosberg looks set to improves again, the German going quickest in Q1. Hamilton eleventh (39.474) with 5:51 on the clock.

Perez is the first driver to switch to drys, the Mexican opting for the super-soft. Two-time world champion pits for another set of Inters.

As Button also switches to the option dry rubber his teammate is really struggling, the car all over the place. At the end of the lap Perez dives straight back into the pits… unbelievably for another set of supersofts. Back on track (or not) Button runs wide at T3. Meanwhile Ricciardo is told that Inters remain the best choice.

Hamilton improves to second with a 37.254 only to be demoted when Rosberg bangs in a 36.194.

Perez is told that he must make the options work and that there is no more rain coming. With 1:16 on the clock the Mexican is in the midst of the danger zone. The McLaren driver has no confidence, almost 2s off the pace in the first sector alone.