Malaysia – Qualifications: Hamilton outpaces Vettel in the rain

The track is dry at the start of qualifying for the second Grand Prix of the year, but the threat of rain is very real with large clouds above the Sepang circuit.

Q1: The drivers are not in a hurry to come out and Max Verstappen is the first to take to the track in his Toro Rosso, followed notably by the two Mercedes, the two Red Bull drivers, and the rest of the pack.

Rosberg sets the first time, which is quickly improved by Hamilton. The Williams and Ferraris follow, while at the beginning of the session, the McLarens are at the back of the grid, in the red zone with the Marussias and Kvyat after the first run.

But on his first lap of the second session, the Russian improves and moves out of the elimination zone. The other drivers at risk take to the track as the weather deteriorates around the circuit. Felipe Nasr is eliminated along with the McLarens – Button ahead of Alonso – and the two Marussias – Merhi being outside the 107% time and Stevens having not set a time, they will have to wait for the stewards’ decision to know if they will be allowed to race tomorrow or not.

Eliminated in Q1: Nasr, Button, Alonso, Merhi, Stevens.

Q2: As the second part of the qualifiers hasn’t started yet, the drivers line up at the red light, all on mediums, to get on the track and set a time as quickly as possible because the rain is expected to arrive.

Vettel sets the fastest time, but Rosberg does better while Hamilton faced traffic and is further behind, but he is on the attack in his second lap as rain appeared on the track. Kimi Räikkönen, on the other hand, is out of the top 10 after his first lap, which should mean elimination, as the weather is not improving.

The rain is very present and the drivers are returning to the pits and will not come out again. Räikkönen is the first eliminated along with Maldonado, Hülkenberg, Perez, and Sainz. Marcus Ericsson, who managed to advance past Q1 in qualifying for the first time, succeeds in qualifying for Q3 for the first time in his career.

Eliminated in Q2: Räikkönen, Maldonado, Hülkenberg, Perez, and Sainz.

Q3: Even before the start of Q3, race management announces a delay of at least 15 minutes for the beginning of the last part of the qualifications until the downpour subsides.

The session resumes with a 30-minute delay and the drivers head out on intermediates or wet tires, depending on the evaluation by the drivers and teams. Hamilton leads Rosberg, Verstappen, Vettel, and Kvyat after the first laps, while the Williams drivers and Grosjean, who started on wets, return to the pits to switch to intermediates. Other drivers follow suit to have the best tires at the optimal time on track.

Lewis Hamilton secures pole position ahead of Sebastian Vettel, who will join him on the front row tomorrow. Rosberg is third ahead of Ricciardo, Kvyat, Verstappen, Massa, Grosjean, Bottas, and Ericsson.

2015 Malaysian Grand Prix – Qualifying