Hamilton goes P1 on his first run, but there are still a few of the top names to set times.

Still 7 cars to set times, meanwhile Alonso goes fastest.

Trulli, di Grassi, Kovalainen, Yamamoto, Senna, Button and Kubica have no times as yet, but Button's on track now.

Vettel goes P2 and Webber P6, then Hamilton takes P1 again.

Button only makes P14.

Current bottom 7:-

Liuzzi
Trulli
Glock
Kovalainen
di Grassi
Senna
Yamamoto

After a few ups and downs the bottom 7 remain the same, with Yamamoto and Senna swapping places.

18. Liuzzi
19. Trulli
20. Glock
21. Kovalainen
22. di Grassi
23. Yamamoto
24. Senna

Q2 now, several cars out right away.

Vettel, Webber and Kubica are the only three who have made it to Q3 in every qualifying this year,

Top 3:-

Vettel
Massa
Hamilton

With Button 9th

Current Q2 drop zone:-

Petrov
Hulkenberg
Alguersuari
Sutil
Buemi
Heidfeld
Kobayashi

Vettel's currently fastest.

Bottom 7 are changing places with each other, but none are getting into the top ten.

Final Q2 drop zone :-

11. Hulkenberg
12. Kobayashi
13. Heidfeld
14. Sutil
15. Petrov
16. Alguersuari
17. Buemi

Q3, seven cars out fairly rapidly. Webber, Hamilton, Button in a crocadile.

Hamilton P1
Webber P2
Button P3

Alonso now P1

Vettel goes P2

Kubica P4

Hamilton goes into the wall at the pit entry.

Massa P4 now.

Webber P2 now.

Vettel  goes P1

Webber goes P2 again.

Alonso pushed down to P3.

Final qualifying result:-

1. Vette
2. Webber
3. Alonso
4. Hamilton
5. Rosberg
6. Massa
7. Button
8. Kubica
9. Schumacher
10. Barrichello
11. Hulkenberg
12. Kobayashi
13. Heidfeld
14. Sutil
15. Petrov
16. Alguersuari
17. Buemi
18. Liuzzi
19. Trulli
20. Glock
21. Kovalainen
22. di Grassi
23. Yamamoto
24. Senna

Petrov will be 20th on the starting grid barring other penalties.

The forecast probability of rain has become a reality. The intensity of said rain is fluctuating and the BIG question is whether the cars will start on intermediates or full wets. There is also a possibility that the race will start behind the safety car.

There doesn't seem to be much in the way of standing water, so it's more likely that they'll start on intermediates, but it is currently lashing, so who knows?

It has just been announced that the start has been put back 10 minutes, because of the rain.

One of the problems is that no-one has any experience of running in the rain on this track.

Further announcement that the race will start behind the Safety Car.

Seems like they will start on extreme wets.

Lots of pitting for tyre changes is expected.

Still raining heavily, but is expected to lessen soon.

Unspectacular start as the crocodile gets underway.

The spray is phenomenal.
I think they will have several laps behind the Safety Car before enough water has been shifted to allow proper racing.

Forecast is for another 20 minutes of rain.