There’s less than half an hour to go before the first qualifying session in the 2013 Formula One season. With the third practice earlier hit by some rain, there’s still practically no easy way to predict just who will come out on top at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team struggled as they came out onto the rained-upon circuit, with Nico Rosberg clocking 1:28.486, good for eleventh-best in Practice 3, and Lewis Hamilton farther down at 1:47.246.

The previous two practice sessions saw the Mercedes team combining for 89 laps, focusing on some of their more basic setups as well as getting a feel for the tires. During the first day, there were some problems that beset the team, such as floor damage on Hamilton’s F1 W04 and a gearbox issue for Rosberg’s car.

The third practice offers some good insight as far as wet conditions go. It’s especially vital as rain could still affect qualifying. We’ll keep you posted on the results, and hopefully Mercedes makes a good showing and gets good places on the grid for Sunday’s opening Grand Prix.