The lead-up to the qualifying session would see heavy rain start to fall and it was expected that it would continue during the rest of the afternoon. It was announced that qualifying would be delayed fifteen minutes. Another fifteen minutes was added with the conditions still very poor. With the conditions not changing another fifteen minute delay was announced. The conditions would start to improve with the drivers starting to get ready getting their helmets on and getting into their cars. The first eighteen minute period would commence with the field waiting at the pit exit with the vast majority on the intermediate tyre. Both Williams cars were out early running on the intermediate tyre. Only the McLaren's had gone out on the full wet tyre.

It was expected that the rain may return during the opening period explaining why everyone was out early. Hamilton and Rosberg would both start their timed laps with Hamilton setting a 1m:57.309 only to be passed by Rosberg with a 1m:17.189. Valtteri was third with a 2m:01.790 as Alonso moved into third but it was changing rapidly as Hulkenberg went third. Alonso was fourth followed by Vettel as Ricciardo went third with a 1m:58.913. Felipe was now eighth and Valtteri tenth. An improved with a 1m:57.183 from Rosberg to keep him at the front. Grosjean was now fifth but Perez would take this spot. Hulkenberg was fourth as Vettel was told that he had an issue with his car and should pit. Both McLaren's would stop to take on intermediate tyres while Valtteri was now tenth but he would improve to be fifth with a time of 1m:59.709. Alonso would improve to be fourth, 1m:59.035, seeing Valtteri now sixth. Felipe had pitted currently in eleventh, 2m:00.715. He would return with eight minutes remaining.

The order was Rosberg from Hamilton, Ricciardo, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Valtteri, Raikkonen, Perez, Grosjean, and Vettel tenth. Magnussen was able to improve to be twelfth while Button was fifteenth. Felipe had pitted fro a new set of intermediates. Vettel had come back out as Valtteri also pitted also taking on new set of intermediates. Felipe was able to improve moving up to eighth with a 2m:00.047. This would become ninth as Vettel went third with a 1m:57.654. Valtteri was now seventh with three minutes remaining. Both Mercedes cars would pit secure in their positions. Vettel would go off at Turn one but was able to continue but would pit as we now had Valtteri and Felipe eighth and ninth. As the period came to a close Ericsson would crash his car seeing the period red flagged. Ericsson had run wide at Turn three and would not come to a stop until Turn four.

With the end of the period those not making the cut were Maldonado, Sutil, Bianchi, Kobayashi, Chilton, and Ericsson. The top ten would be Rosberg from Hamilton, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Valtteri, Felipe, and Perez tenth.

The start of the second fifteen minute period would see more rain falling with drivers moving to the full wet tyre. Both Mercedes cars were waiting at the pit exit. Raikkonen had gone out on the intermediate tyre as the cars exited the pit lane. Valtteri was also out on the intermediate tyre but team-mate Felipe was on the full wet. Alonso was also on the intermediate tyre with replays showing that Kvyat and Alonso had made contact as the period was red flagged. Alonso would return to his pit with broken front left suspension. Kvyat had gone into Turn nine and Alonso would take his line and the cars would make contact. Commentators would say that it was Kvyat's error having not been able to brake to avoid Alonso. Kvyat would need a new front nose.

The period would restart with the cars waiting at the end of the grid. Valtteri would again line up on the intermediate tyre while Raikkonen had switched to the full wet. Felipe was still on the full wet as the drivers took to the track. Alonso had yet to leave his pit while his mechanics continued to work on his car. It really looked like Valtteri had made the wrong choice as it was announced that there would be an investigation in regard to the Kvyat and Alonso incident after qualifying finishes. Valtteri was struggling on his intermediate tyres but he had stayed out starting his flying lap. Hamilton had gone fastest in sector one and two finishing with a 1m:59.419. Rosberg was second and Gutierrez third. But Magnussen would go third followed by Raikkonen. Perez would move ahead of Raikkonen fro fifth. Ricciardo was now second with a 2m:00.147 from Rosberg and Vettel. Hulkenberg was fifth and Alonso sixth.

Felipe was eleventh with a 2m:03.451 but he would drop to twelfth. Valtteri was slowest with a 2m:05.622. Felipe would pit with six minutes remaining as Vettel went second with a time of 1m:59.879. Hamilton would improve his time with a 1m:59.241, as Button went ninth. Raikkonen would move up to seventh, 2m:01.532. Valtteri would pit taking on the full wet tyre while Felipe would also pit taking on the intermediate tyre. He would pit without setting a time changing back to the full wet. Two minutes remaining and the Williams drivers had only one lap to try and get into the top ten. Rosberg would move up to second with a 1m:59.445. Valtteri now had his single lap to move forward. Magnussen had gone off the track seeing him forced to pit. Felipe would start his final lap as Button moved up to eighth as the period came to an end. Valtteri could only manage twelfth with a 2m:02.756. Kvyat would go tenth but team-mate Vergne would take this spot. Felipe would finish his lap only managing thirteenth, 2m:02.460.

So with the end of the period Felipe was thirteenth and Valtteri fifteenth. Those not making the cut were Kvyat, Gutierrez, Felipe, Perez, Valtteri, and Grosjean. It was announced that an investigation would take place in regard to Valtteri possibly impeding Ricciardo after qualifying so there may be the possibility of a penalty for Valtteri.