Welcome back to ESPNF1's coverage of the Australian Grand Prix ahead of the all-important qualifying session.

Final practice gave us few clues as to who will be on pole, but we should see the McLarens, Red Bulls, Lotuses and Mercedes in the mix in the top ten. Pre-race favourite Sebastian Vettel has yet to show his hand, but it wasn't due to any strategic gamesmanship on Red Bulls part as he stuck his RB8 in the gravel during final practice.

Hamilton was quickest but only by less than a tenth from Grosjean in the Lotus. Webber was third but set his fastest time several laps in to a soft tyre run, suggesting there is still a few kilos of fuel to be taken out of the Red Bull.

Vettel wasn't the only man to end his session in the gravel, however, as Schumacher also spun off in FP3. He lost the rear of his car heading into turn nine after Mercedes looked pretty quick earlier in the session.

Ferrari were the most disappointing with just the 16th and 18th fastest times in FP3. That could be misleading though, as running was restricted on Friday because of rain and Ferrari had a pretty hefty workload they wanted to complete. So they may well have been focusing on long run pace or aero parts rather than qualifying style laps. Either way it's not ideal.

Mercedes tweets that Rosberg is preparing for the session: "Nico is looking very chilled before qualifying... racesuit, sunnies, cap, headphones and sitting in the sun with his trainer Daniel!"

Things are interesting at the very back of the grid too with Marussia and HRT both hoping to get within 107% of the fastest Q1 time.

The early signs suggest Marussia should do it, but HRT is going to have a tough time. Team principal Luis Perez-Sala said yesterday that the team may have to aim for Malaysia or even China as the team's first race.

The midfield will see some of the closest battles. Sauber, Williams, Toro Rosso and Force India all look capable of mixing it in the top ten, but will have to beat the McLarens, Red Bulls, Lotuses, Mercedes and Ferraris to do so.

Alonso said yesterday that he was expecting a mixed grid so there could be some bruised egos by the end of the day, or possibly even after Q1.

Sky Sports is reporting that Red Bull and Lotus intend to protest Mercedes' qualifying results today as they believe the DRS-activated F-duct on the W03 is not legal.

Mercedes has been the centre of attention all weekend as it is running a rear wing stalling device that is operated when the F-duct is activated. It appears as though Red Bull and Lotus believe this is driver activated and therefore illegal, although the FIA's Charlie Whiting said it was legal on Thursday. It could get interesting.

Meanwhile, Ferrari tweets: "It is going to be tough for us, no reason to hide the truth"

The drivers are being belted in to their cars with Q1 just a few minutes away.

As always the trick for the top teams is to make it through Q1 without using softs, but that might be tougher than last year for a few teams with Caterham looking stronger this year.

The session is underway.

Glock is the first man on track in the Marussia. They were still running aero paint on that car in FP3 so they still have a lot to learn about the MR01 and the more track time the better.

Glock is joined by Pic and they are both on the soft tyres.

Senna heads out on hard tyres to get a banker lap in.

Pirelli tweets: "Expect the usual pattern. The top teams will try to get through Q1 with the medium tyres, before switching to the softs during Q2 and for Q3"

Di Resta and Maldonado also join the fun on medium tyres.

Glock has got a fair bit of track to himself and sets a 1:32.997.

Vettel is on track on medium tyres. He still has a bit to learn after spinning in FP3 so it makes sense to get out early.

Pic has just gone quicker Glock by about 0.6s.

Senna sets a slowish first lap but wasn't really pushing. He was third fastest.

Vettel runs a tad wide in turn one and has to make a correction at the wheel to catch the rear end.

Raikkonen is on a fast lap on the mediums but is off the pace of Maldonado, who is currently fastest.

Senna goes quickest on his second attempt with a 1:28.223.

The 107% time was a 1:31.679 in FP3.

Karthikeyan holds up Alonso at the end of the Ferrari's first lap and continues to block him into turn one.

Hamilton skips across the run off area at turn one, runing his first attempt at fast lap. He landed quite hard so hopefully there will be no damage to the bottom of the car.

Button gies fastest with a 1:26.986 on hard tyres. Kobayashi is second with Hamilton third.

Schumacher locks up at turn nine, where he spun earlier, and runs a little wide. Clearly his confidence hasn't been dented as he was pushing hard.

The two HRTs have yet to set a time but the Marussias are inside 107% of Button's time at the moment.

Hamilton goes fastest with a 1:26.800 but it immediately pipped by Rosberg with a 1:26.763.

Another small mistake for Vettel in the Red Bull at turn 10 as he is still struggling for grip.

Massa is 19th at the moment and in the drop zone. Expect soft tyres to be fitted to that Ferrari for its next run.

Webber is the highest-placed Red Bull in sixth. Vettel is ninth as he leaves the pits again on medium tyres.

Webber is the highest-placed Red Bull in sixth. Vettel is ninth as he leaves the pits again on medium tyres.

Senna and the Force Indias leave the pits on softs.

Ricciardo is also out on softs, the Lotuses return to the track on medium tyres.

Alonso is also out on softs, as is Kobayashi.

Di Resta only improves to 13th, not what Force India were hoping for. Senna looking good in fifth at the moment.

Kobayashi is on a very fast lap as Vergne goes quickest on the soft tyres.

Mercedes are sticking with the mediums. Webber is back in the pits in 12th so won't improve.

At the back di Resta and Raikkonen are under pressure as is Massa.

Raikkonen is out in Q1. He made a mistake on the exit of turn 12 and was on the mediums so didn't improve. Meanwhile Grosjean is the fastest man on mediums.

Kovalainen, Petrov, the Marussias and HRT join Raikkonen in dropping out in Q1.

The HRTs were over a second shy of 107% of Kobayashi's time so may not be allowed to start the race. It will down to the discretion of the stewards.

A replay shows Kovalainen getting blocked by one of the HRTs on his hot lap. He would have lost some time as a result, but whether it would be enough to beat Raikkonen is another story.

Shocking news for Raikkonen fans. Had he used soft tyres he would almost certainly have made it. But a mistake and the medium tyres cost him dear.

The stewards are investigating the Kovalainen and de la Rosa incident.

Di Resta is the first man out on track in Q2. Vettel, Alonso and the Williamses join him.

All the cars are straight out on soft tyres so far. Senna is on used options as are the Force Indias.

Vettel sets a 1:25.982 to go fastest on his first soft tyre run.

Alonso is out of qualifying after spinning his Ferrari. He's currently fourth fastest but if he does make Q3 he will not take part . He's asking for a push though so might get going.

Alonso touched the grass braking for turn one and gets out of the car.

The sesion has been stopped to recover the Ferrari. He's not a happy boy as he was asking for a push, but the marshals did not want to oblige.

The clock has stopped. Six cars yet to set a time (Schumacher, Rosberg, Grosjean, Kobayashi, Perez and Vergne).

They will get 8 minutes 22 seconds to try and get into the top ten. Alonso will be hoping they won't, but his best possible qualifying position will be 10th.

Ferrari tweets: "He had managed to keep the engine on, waiting for the marshals who did nothing."

The session is back underway.

Massa and the two Mercedes head straight out on soft tyres to chase a faster lap.

Webber heads back out on softs, he's currently fourth but clearly thinks he can go quicker.

Both Mercedes are on quick laps.

Massa can only manage ninth as Rosberg shoots straight to the top of the timing screens.

Schumacher crosses the line a tenth of a second shy of Rosberg after a little wobble at the rear of his car in the final corner.

Grosjean manages fifth as Alonso gets shunted down to eighth.

Webber runs wide at turn one as it looks as though his soft tyres are past their best.

Massa pushing hard but it's not helping and he's still 12th.

Vettel and the McLarens will not leave the pits again. The two Mercedes have also returned to the pits.

Vettel and the McLarens will not leave the pits again. The two Mercedes have also returned to the pits.

Vergne is up to ninth to join team-mate Ricciardo in the top ten.

Maldonado also in the top ten as Alonso ends up 10th. He was fastest in the first sector.

Kobayashi fails to make the top ten and Vergne is out of the top ten too. Hulkenberg and Ricciardo sneak through.

Good to see Williams in the top ten with a very good lap from Maldonado. Senna was about 0.4s off his team-mate and was 14th as a result.

Both Ferraris out in Q2 and Massa was back in 16th. Alonso will start 12th after his spin.

It's shaping up for a fantastic fight at the front with Mercedes, McLaren, Red Bull and Grosjean's Lotus all in the mix.

Benjamin says: "Are we looking at a new domination from the Mercedes Team?"

The first Q3 session of the season is underway.

Rosberg joins the track on soft tyres. Schumacher and the McLarens are also out early.

Grosjean and Vettel join the action on softs.

Rsoberg is looking very quick in the Mercedes but is on a set of used soft tyres whereas Hamilton is quicker in sector one on a fresh set.

Hamilton clocks a 1:24.992 to go fastest.

Schumacher is 0.7s shy on used soft tyres, as is Vettel.

Webber heading out now for what will probably be his only run.

The Mercedes pair will now come back in for a new set of soft tyres and a shot at pole.

No sign of Hulkenberg, Maldonado and Ricciardo yet either.

Webber starts his hot lap on soft tyres and has a clear track.

Hamilton's first sector was hugely impressive, 0.2s faster than Vettel and 0.5s faster than his team-mate Button.

Webber does not look capable of troubling the front runners.

And Webber crosses the line for second place but is still 0.7s off Hamilton. Expect the Mercedes Button and Vettel to fill that gap.

All the cars bar Ricciardo are now on track. He must be saving tyres for the race.

Rosberg starts his hot lap but locks up into turn three. And he's 0.4s off Hamilton in sector one.

Button is fastest in the first sector. Schumacher is also looking quick, Hamilton is not.

Button takes second just 0.152 off Hamilton, Grosjean is third and Schumacher fourth. Vettel can only manage sixth behind Webber.

Fantastic qualifying with Hamilton taking pole with his first lap. He aborted his second attempt safe in the knowledge he had pole.

Great result for Grosjean on his return, Kimi will be kicking himself after that mistake in Q1.

Schumacher could only manage fourth in the end and Rosberg had a scrappy lap for seventh.

Maldonado was just 0.2s off Rosberg after a very impressive display from the Williams driver.

A huge surprise to see the Red Bulls fifth and sixth and even more so that Webber beat Vettel.

It's been a great session. Thanks for joining us and make sure you keep checking the website for all the reaction from teams and drivers. We'll be back on live commentary for the race tomorrow.