Rain spices up qualifying for Red Bull

With gearbox penalties for both Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg, Ricciardo will start fifth on the grid after setting the seventh fastest time, while Verstappen will start eighth, having set the ninth fastest time.

Rain began to fall at the end of Q2, meaning the entire field went out in Q3 on intermediate tyres.

But with the circuit drying rapidly, teams flocked back into the pits to fit dry tyres for the final few minutes.

Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg appeared to be the man to catch as he gambled first, while Ricciardo also held the top spot for a few minutes.

But those crossing the line towards the end of the session were going ever-faster, meaning the Red Bulls were only able to set times good enough for seventh and ninth.

Lewis Hamilton starts from pole position, while Hulkenberg is provisionally second, and Jenson Button third.