2009 Brazilian Grand Prix Race day at Interlagos

Several hours after qualifying was completed, it was announced that Force India would be changing the gearbox on Tonio Liuzzi's car after that heavy shunt at Turn 1.

The Italian drops five places on the grid for today's race and will start from the back, in 20th position.

Rubens Barrichello

Shortly before qualifying it was a case of deja-vu as the heavens opened once again, although the knock-out session got underway on time.

The first phase was soon red-flagged when Giancarlo Fisichella spun in the Senna S and accidentally pressed the engine kill button while trying to control the slide. The Italian was stranded sideways on the racing line - instant elimination.

The rain fell heavier and the race director held back the restart for time until conditions were better. First qualifying was then completed but with some big shocks. Neither McLaren driver could make it into the top 15 and joining them was Sebastian Vettel after a disastrous run in the Red Bull.

Phase two was started after a further delay for weather. But in less than three minutes the red flags were out yet again - this time for Tonio Liuzzi after the Italian aquaplaned on the start-finish straight. He was pitched to the left into the pitwall and then careered towards the outside retaining wall at Turn 1. Liuzzi was unhurt but his Force India was badly damaged.

70 minutes later qualifying two was resumed to a conclusion with another shock in store. Jenson Button stayed out on the drying circuit with full wet tyres when conditions began to favour intermediate rubber. He starts 14th.

Rubens Barrichello was therefore the only championship challenger to make it through to the shootout, and the Brazilian made it count, surging his way through the spray to claim pole position with a last-gasp 1m19.576s lap.

Mark Webber starts alongside the Brawn driver on the front row of the grid, with Adrian Sutil a fine third, Jarno Trulli fourth, Kimi Raikkonen fifth and Sebastien Buemi a career-best sixth in the Toro Rosso.

Barrichello on pole, Button down in 14th

Nico Rosberg

A quick development of heavy, thundery showers on Saturday made track conditions impossible at times, throwing plans for the final practice session into chaos.

The circuit was awash just minutes before the session was scheduled to begin, prompting race control to delay proceedings as the medical helicopter could not fly. The first couple of storms would soon pass, allowing the cars out for a shortened 18-minute run ahead of qualifying.

Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso were involved in harmless incidents, but Romain Grosjean was less fortunate. The Frenchman aquaplaned on a large area of standing water exiting Turn 5 and skated off the road, launching over the bumpy grass and into the barrier.

Nico Rosberg topped the mini-session for Williams, with team-mate Kazuki Nakajima following him home in second spot.

Rosberg tops shortened practice three

The clouds parted earlier this morning and Sao Paulo has enjoyed the sunshine for the first time in several days.

Throughout the morning and early afternoon some cloud has built up, with a chance of showers during the race still keeping the teams glued to their radar screens.

The maximum air temperature this afternoon is higher than at any point during the weekend at 24 degrees Celsius.

Hello everyone and welcome to AUTOSPORT Live for the penultimate round of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship - the Petrobras Brazilian Grand Prix.

The Jose Carlos Pace circuit at Interlagos has thrown almost everything at the teams and drivers this weekend. Three of the four track sessions have been disrupted, and there is likely to be yet more fun this afternoon as the drivers battle it out at the scene of Lewis Hamilton's dramatic championship victory last year.

The race itself starts at 16:00 GMT, but before then we will review Saturday's action at the circuit in case you missed it, take a look at the three championship protagonists, as well as looking at the weather forecast. We'll also analyse the fuel weights and what they may mean for the first stint of the race.