As it happened: 2010 Australia - Qualifying

• 05:32

  Hello and welcome back to the Factbyte Factbox for qualifying. We have half an hour before the session gets underway.

• 05:33

  Following FP3, there was a major start line crash in the GT2 event. The race was red flagged, and the track was filthy, debris everywhere.

• 05:33

  From @VirginRacing: Track still being inspected after that massive startline shunt in the GTs. But should be ok for quali. Now we just need rain to stay away

• 05:34

  The BBC are live now, interviewing Mike Gascoyne, and live updates available: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/8588467.stm

• 05:37

  From @redbullf1spy: Fingers jammed in your ears - it's the traditional fly-over. Them planes is loud.

• 05:42

  Live timing is available via F1.com: http://www.formula1.com/live_timing/

• 05:45

  Nick Wirth confirmed their computers say no rain, but Jake Humphrey says it is windy and cloudy over Albert Park.

• 05:48

  Ted confirms that the driver boycott of the grid is likely to continue tomorrow, as their physios still have not been granted passes.

• 05:52

  Christian Horner: "Both drivers seem upbeat, but it's looking tight. Some rain in the area, looks like English weather. Traffic is a much bigger problem here than in Bahrain, some cars 5 or 6 seconds a lap slower."

• 05:54

  Martin Whitmarsh: "Looks tough, some rain in the air, could have some rain. Prime tyre needs a few laps to be warmed up."

• 05:55

  From @InsideFerrari: both drivers are inside the cockpit

• 05:56

  Live timing has reset.

• 05:57

  From @MikeGascoyne: Looking to do two runs in qualifying with both cars. Wait 5 mins for the early runners before the first run

• 05:57

  Pedro de la Rosa has been reprimanded for impeding other drivers.

• 06:00

  The session has begun - Liuzzi and Sutil line up at the end of the pitlane to get out first.

• 06:02

  Plumes of cement dust on the main straight.

• 06:03

  Initial lap times from the Force India boys - 1:28s.

• 06:04

  The McLaren drivers are the only to remain in the pitlane.

• 06:04

  Traffic really is a problem out there.

• 06:05

  Hamilton: "It looks crazy out there."

• 06:05

  All 24 cars are out on track now.

• 06:06

  From @MikeGascoyne: Both cars on their way out, a shower developing south of the circuit but should miss the circuit

• 06:06

  Liuzzi had to slow behind an HRT car, which allowed Alonso to zip past the both of them.

• 06:08

  Alonso in P1 at the moment, as Liuzzi pits. The two McLarens are just about to get their times on the board.

• 06:09

  Button jumps up to 13th, Hamilton 7th.

• 06:10

  With half the session gone, the fastest three are Vettel, Alonso and Webber.

• 06:10

  The bottom seven at the moment - Buemi, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Chandhok, di Grassi and Senna.

• 06:12

  All drivers return to the pits, bar both McLaren boys and de la Rosa (staying out of everyone's way?)

• 06:13

  Autosport Live: Hamilton had a major moment in the final corner while catching traffic. He is now third quickest.

• 06:14

  Barrichello complaining that Alguersuari and Hamilton were holding him up.

• 06:14

  Jenson: "Balance is good."

• 06:16

  None of the bottom seven drivers have managed to improve their times yet. The top five remain in the pit lane - probably satisfied with their times.

• 06:19

  Kobayashi improved to drop Petrov into the bottom seven.

• 06:21

  Petrov doesn't manage to improve. Rosberg jumps up to 2nd.

• 06:21

  The fastest three at the end of Q1: Vettel, Rosberg, Hamilton.

• 06:21

  Dropping out: Petrov, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, di Grassi, Senna, Chandhok

• 06:22

  From @MikeGascoyne: Enjoy the rest of qualifying, sadly without us. Jarno reporting a broken seat which would have been a big problem

• 06:23

  From @InsideFerrari: Both drivers qualified for Q2. Felipe managed to do a couple of clean laps in his second run. still warm up issues as expected

• 06:24

  Mixed reports of some rain drops starting to fall.

• 06:27

  Chandhok: "Just a tenth off the next car so it's not too bad for my first ever qualifying, but as a racing driver it's still disappointing. Didn't know how to get the tyres to work for one lap."

• 06:27

  From @InsideFerrari: force india looks good today one more pretender to Q3

• 06:27

  Q2 underway with Webber out first.

• 06:28

  Kovalainen: "Tomorrow we try to finish the race, had a good weekend so far."

• 06:30

  Webber sets the first lap time of Q2 - a 1:24.797, instantly beaten by Alonso.

• 06:32

  Webber is on hard tyres, whilst the Ferrari's are on softs.

• 06:32

  Hamilton and Schumacher return to the pitlane.

• 06:33

  All drivers have now set a time - the seven slowest drivers at the moment: Sutil, Liuzzi, Kobayashi, de la Rosa, Hulkenberg, Alguersuari, Hamilton.

• 06:35

  From @tonyfernandes: Awesome qualifying. Well done to jarno heikki and all at lotus. Very very happy. Exactly as we planned. Now on the plane. See u in melbourne

• 06:35

  All cars back in the pits.

• 06:35

  Hamilton emerges for another lap - he needs to improve on his previous 1:28.

• 06:37

  Hamilton has hit traffic now, rounding Rosberg with easy.

• 06:38

  Everyone out on track except the two BMW Sauber drivers. Hamilton improves to 7th.

• 06:38

  The top ten with three minutes to go - Webber, Alonso, Button.

• 06:39

  The bottom seven - x2 Toro Rosso, x2 Force India, x2 Sauber plus Hulkenberg.

• 06:40

  Hamilton asks his engineer where he can find time, told he can improve on the middle sector and last sector.

• 06:41

  Sutil up to 8th, dropping Hamilton back into the bottom seven. Button is up in P4.

• 06:42

  Kobayashi slides round the final turn, keeps control, but doesn't improve on 14th.

• 06:42

  Hamilton lifts off, gives up the lap, finishes 11th.

• 06:42

  Top three in Q2 - Vettel, Webber, Alonso.

• 06:43

  Dropping out: Hamilton, Buemi, Liuzzi, de la Rosa, Hulkenberg, Kobayashi and Alguersuari.

• 06:48

  Vettel intending to do just one single fast lap.

• 06:50

  Webber out first in Q1, hustling ahead of Alonso.

• 06:50

  Vettel remains in the garage, but the drivers may be expecting some rain.

• 06:51

  From the track Jeremy says: More rain sprinkles here but I don't think it will rain. The clouds just don look black enough

• 06:52

  All drivers out on track except for Kubica and Sutil.

• 06:52

  Alonso has got ahead of Webber on the lap and is now leading the pack.

• 06:53

  Alonso posts the first time, but Webber jumps to P1 with a 1:24.035

• 06:54

  Vettel drops into the 1:23s, taking provisional pole.

• 06:54

  Kubica has left the garage, but Sutil remains in the pit lane.

• 06:55

  Sutil leaves the garage.

• 06:57

  Button on a hot lap, jumps ahead of Rosberg for 4th.

• 06:58

  Barrichello is in the pitlane, and currently 8th behind Schumacher.

• 06:59

  The skies are getting darker, Alonso remains 3rd, Webber remains 2nd.

• 07:00

  Vettel on a lap, but only really battling with himself, and unlikely to improve on his own time.

• 07:00

  Top Ten: Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Button, Massa, Rosberg, Schumacher, Barrichello, Kubica, Sutil

  Full results to follow.

• 07:03

  Full qualifying results: https://sidepodcast.com/2010/03/27/australia-2010-qualifying-results/

• 07:06

  Thanks to everyone for joining me today. It was an early start and the Factbyte Factbox needs to take a nap now so it is refreshed for the race tomorrow. I hope you'll return for more facts!