Malaysian GP: Hulkenberg fifth in qualifying

With Rubens Barrichello finishing the final practice session in ninth his prospects of making it into the final period were improved. But the teams were faced with rain as the opening period commenced. It was expected that the rain would last for fifteen minutes. Nico's race engineer said that behind this rain was a clear period for around 30 minutes. There was a rush of cars as the first twenty period got underway. Nico would come out early with intermediate tyres seeming to be the popular choice. More than half the field was out on the track as Buemi commenced a timed lap. Parts of the track were almost dry while others were quite wet. A 1m:48.945 from Buemi followed by De la Rosa and Kobayashi, Alguersuari, Glock, and Kovalainen. Nico would move into fifth, 1m:52.863.

Sutil and Vettel would move into third and fourth. Liuzzi would move ahead of Vettel. But Kubica would go fastest with a 1m:47.520 but De la Rosa would improve with a 1m:47.153. Kobayashi was now third while Nico was down in tenth while Rubens had taken to the track. Buemi would skate off the road at Turn fifteen as he tried to complete a second timed lap. He would recover and stays out. Kubica was again fastest with a 1m:46.283. Nico was now eleventh while Rubens was in tenth, 1m:50.301. Vettel was third from Petrov and Kobayashi. Everyone except Buemi and Di Grassi were out on the track. Liuzzi would have a half spin at Turn seven but was able to continue. Senna was off in the gavel and out of the period. Only sixteen cars had set a time with ten minutes left in the period.

Nico and Rubens were still in ninth and eleventh. Button was twelfth while Hamilton would spin at the final corner. He was able to continue. Button was off and into the gravel at Turn six ending his period. Schumacher would move into thirteenth as the rain gets heavier with a 1m:52.239. Button said that he aquaplaned off the track. The order was still Kubica from de la Rosa, Vettel, Petrov, Kobayashi and Alguersuari. Several drivers were now taking on full wet.

With the rain not easing the choice by some of the leading teams not to take part in the dryer spell early on in the period has cost them dearly, including Massa, Alonso, and Hamilton. Button would set a time good enough for thirteenth but a his spin would mean that he won't be out in the second period. Rubens and Nico would finish the period in sixth and seventh. Those not making the cut were Trulli, Alonso, Hamilton, Massa, Chandhok, Senna, and Di Grassi.

The second period would get underway with Petrov out first. Full wets were the tyre of choice to begin the period. More rain was expected but in the early stages of the period some parts of the track were more suited to the intermediates. There was a rush of times been set with Schumacher fastest, 1m:50.611, from Kubica, Nico, Vettel, and Webber. Rosberg was up to fourth while Rubens was down in twelfth. Petrov was now second, 1m:50.670, while Glock would spin his Virgin at Turn eight but was able to continue. Nico was still fourth, 1m:51.148, and Rubens twelfth with eight minutes remaining. Drivers were pitting an taking on intermediates rather than the full wets. Rubens was now up to third, 1m:49.444. In front of him both Schumacher, 1m:48.643, and Petrov, 1m:48.760, had both improved. Nico was still fourth with a 1m:49.925.

The intermediates were proving to be far more effective while Kubica was now fifth from Rosberg, Vettel, Webber, and Kobayashi in tenth. Vettel was now fastest with a 1m:47.003 while Nico would improve to be second, 1m:47.715. Rubens was now in third but this became fourth as Kubica went fastest, 1m:46.951. Rosberg was up to third, 1m:47.417, while Nico and Rubens were fourth and fifth. Webber was in ninth as Sutil moved in third, 1m:47.085. Kobayashi was now sixth with two minutes remaining. The rain would start to fall heavier at certain parts of the track. It was changing all the time with Rubens dropping to eighth. Nico was still fourth while at the front Vettel was still fastest from Kubica, Sutil, and Nico. Webber was able to improve to be seventh, 1m;48.210.

Schumacher was now tenth as the period ended. Nico would pit from fourth with Rubens now ninth. Those not making the cut were Petrov, De la Rosa, Buemi, Alguersuari, Kovalainen, Glock, and Button. A great result for the Williams team as both cars had made it into the top ten and the final period of qualifying.

The final period would see the top ten take to the track but the rain was such that the track was under water with rivers of water crossing parts of the track. The period was red flagged as a result before any times were set. There was just over seven minutes left in the period as Rubens left his car to allow his mechanics to dry it. Eventually the organisers were able to let the cars return to the track with Liuzzi leading the cars out. Team-mate Sutil would set the initial pace with a 1m:51.238. Nico was able to move up to second with a time of 1m:51.547. Vettel was only in sixth while Kubica moved into second. Nico would improve with a 1m:51.001 to again be second.

Most drivers were on the full wet weather tyre but Webber was running on intermediates and was able to use those to good effect setting a time of 1m:50.451 to go fastest. Rosberg was now second with a 1m:50.673 while Nico had dropped to fifth behind Sutil. On his last Webber would put pole out of reach with a time of 1m:49.327. Rosberg remained second from Vettel, Sutil, Nico, Kubica, Rubens, Schumacher, Kobayashi, and in tenth Liuzzi. For Nico his fifth place was a career best in what was a very difficult qualifying with varying track conditions playing a major role in the result. As for Sunday's race and the possibility of achieving a points scoring result it could again come down to the weather and the likelihood of showers during the race.