Rain causes chaos in Melbourne

The start of the new Formula One season was thrown into chaos as adverse weather in Melbourne forced the second and third sessions of qualifying to be postponed until Sunday.

Heavy rain initially delayed the opening 20-minute Q1 session, which began 30 minutes late but was ultimately completed only for conditions to worsen again almost as soon as it finished.

Race control at Melbourne's Albert Park announced delay after delay before deciding Q2 and Q3 will now take place on Sunday at 11am local time (midnight GMT).

Twice in recent years qualifying has had to be postponed on Saturday and held on Sunday morning, on both occasions in Japan. In 2004 Typhoon Ma struck the Suzuka circuit, whilst three years ago conditions similar to today resulted in a continual stream of delays until the call was made to wait until race day to hold qualifying.

On this occasion the circumstances are somewhat unusual as Q1 found a window in which it could be completed, but with the remainder to now take place on Sunday.

Appreciably the opening 20-minute session was chaotic and ended with the track strewn with carbon fibre given the number of incidents.

Just as the first session was scheduled to start a number of marshals were out and about using brooms and squeegees to try and sweep away the standing water, albeit to no avail. When it finally did begin the likes of Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa, Giedo van der Garde, Charles Pic and Esteban Gutierrez all suffered accidents.

Six drivers will effectively have the morning off on Sunday, led by Williams' Pastor Maldonado, who went for a lengthy excursion across the grass at one point.

The Venezuelan, who declared his car "undriveable" after finishing Q1, will start 17th. Behind him will be four of the five rookies in F1 this year, with Gutierrez 18th in his Sauber after ending his first qualifying with a spin into the same wall that accounted for Massa.

For Marussia, in what will be a season-long battle for 10th place in the constructors' championship with Caterham, the team struck an early blow with both their cars outqualifying their main rival. Jules Bianchi and Britain's Max Chilton will line up 19th and 20th, whilst on the back row will be Van der Garde and Pic, both of whom spun at various points, losing their front wings.