Ahead of today's qualifying session, the last of the year, the air temperature is 19 degrees C, while the track temperature is 19 degrees.

It has stopped raining, but it is definitely in the air, and the forecasters say there is more to come indeed, the FIA radar warns of light rain from time to time. The track remains damp following this morning's rain so Inters would seem to be the way.

While Nico Rosberg was quickest in both of yesterday's wet sessions, the German didn't post a time this morning, nor did the Ferrari duo or Jenson Button.

Such were the conditions we didn't see the drivers switch to Inters until the final stages and even then many were clearly struggling.

With rain predicted tomorrow also, we could be in for a real classic, and this morning's timesheets gives us a scintillating appetiser of what could be. Webber quickest, with Kovalainen, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Vergne and Gutierrez all in the Top Seven. And how about Bianchi thirteenth, two spots behind Hamilton, but, along with Pic, Chilton and Van der Garde, ahead of Vettel.

With tyres limited, Mercedes and Ferrari both opted not to run in the final ten minutes this morning, neither team wanting to take any risks. It is this kind of caution that could well play into the hands of those drivers and teams willing to take a gamble.

While Valtteri Bottas quadrupled his team's tally in just one race, what chance Bianchi or Pic helping their team leapfrog Williams should it get really silly tomorrow. Nothing in F1 is ever impossible.

With the rain having stopped - for now - we can expect action right from the start as drivers seek the infamous 'banker lap'.

As the lights go green, the FIA announces that the "risk of rain for this session is 100%"

Hamilton heads the queue of 15 cars that heads on to the track - all are on Inters. In moments all 22 are on track, some barging their way past the 'back markers'.

"If you feel it's too wet for Inters, we can always pit stop for full wets," Pic is told.

In clear air, Hamilton posts 25.342, Pic going second with a 27.843.

"There are a few dry patches in S1 and S2," says Hulkenberg.

After the first wave of times it's: Hamilton, di Resta, Hulkenberg and Button. Then Vettel goes second with a 25.381. Elsewhere, Alonso and Webber almost come to grief.

There is a dry line, for sure," says Hamilton as he fails to improve on his previous best.

As Hamilton goes quickest in S1, and Webber goes seventeenth overall, it starts raining heavily in the pitlane. A strong final sector sees the Australian go ninth overall (26.689).

With 12:00 on the clock, Vergne and Gutierrez join the usual suspects in the drop zone.

"OK, mate, we are P9, P9," Webber is told, "we want to keep circulating, keep going for the moment."

Alonso posts a PB in S2 as he seeks improves from 16th to 14th.

While most drivers are now back in the pits, a few continue, among them Gutierrez (currently 19th) and Kovalainen.

Try as he might, the rain falling harder now, Gutierrez cannot improve. He is joined on track by the Marussia duo.

With 4:10 on the clock, Kovalainen, Ricciardo, Maldonado and Vergne are back on track, all but the Frenchman currently outside the drop zone.

While Vergne fails to improve, Kovalainen posts a PB in S1 and Maldonado in S3.

Gutierrez improves to 17th with a 27.460 but he needs to fins another couple of tenths.

From out of nowhere, Kovalainen produces a 26.266 to go fifth the Finn fastest of all in the final sector.