The McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have grabbed pole position and the second slot for tomorrow's Malaysian grand prix. That is the same as in the opening grand prix in Australia last week, which Button won after also starting second.

The qualifying session was held in dry conditions this morning.

Michael Schumacher is third in a Mercedes and Mark Webber fourth for Red Bull.

Kimi Raikonnen quailified fifth in the Lotus but will be relegated five places because of a gearbox change. The fifth slot on the grid will be taken by Sebastian Vettel in the second Red Bull - and he is using the harder tyre in a change of strategy from those in front.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) qualified ninth, having suffered a Kers problem and will start eighth because of Raikonnen's relegation.

THE GRID

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)

Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)

Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes-AMG)

Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull-Renault)

Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull-Renault)

Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus-Renault)

Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes-AMG)

Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari)

Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber-Ferrari)

Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Lotus-Renault)

Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams-Renault)

Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari)

Bruno Senna (BRA/Williams-Renault)

Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India-Mercedes)

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)

Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Force India-Mercedes)

Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber-Ferrari)

Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso-Ferrari)

Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Caterham-Renault)

Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Caterham-Renault)

Timo Glock (GER/Marussia-Cosworth)

Charles Pic (FRA/Marussia-Cosworth)

Pedro de la Rosa (ESP/HRT-Cosworth)

Narain Karthikeyan (IND/HRT-Cosworth)