Mark Webber si vybojoval pole position v kvalifikácii na VC Malajzie, keď v poslednej časti kvalifikácie nastúpil na rozdiel od svojich rivalov s prechodnými pneumatikami, čo sa ukázalo ako geniálna taktika.
Jazdci Ferrari odštartujú z 19. a 21. miesta, do Q2 nepostúpili kvôli podmienkam na trati, ktoré sa v priebehu Q1 stále zhoršovali a časy prejdené na konci prvej časti nestačili na tie zajdené skôr.
Výsledky kvalifikácie:
| Pozícia | Jazdec | Tím | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Strata |
| 1 | Mark Webber | RBR-Renault | 1:51,886 | 1:48,210 | 1:49,327 | - |
| 2 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes GP | 1:52,560 | 1:47,417 | 1:50,673 | 0:01,346 |
| 3 | Sebastian Vettel | RBR-Renault | 1:47,632 | 1:46,828 | 1:50,789 | 0:01,462 |
| 4 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1:49,479 | 1:47,085 | 1:50,914 | 0:01,587 |
| 5 | Nico Hülkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1:49,664 | 1:47,346 | 1:51,001 | 0:01,674 |
| 6 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 1:46,283 | 1:46,951 | 1:51,051 | 0:01,724 |
| 7 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1:50,301 | 1:48,371 | 1:51,511 | 0:02,184 |
| 8 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes GP | 1:52,239 | 1:48,400 | 1:51,717 | 0:02,390 |
| 9 | Kamuj Kobajaši | BMW Sauber-Ferrari | 1:48,467 | 1:47,792 | 1:51,767 | 0:02,440 |
| 10 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1:49,922 | 1:48,238 | 1:52,254 | 0:02,927 |
| 11 | Vitalij Petrov | Renault | 1:47,952 | 1:48,760 | ||
| 12 | Pedro de la Rosa | BMW Sauber-Ferrari | 1:47,153 | 1:48,771 | ||
| 13 | Sébastien Buemi | STR-Ferrari | 1:48,945 | 1:49,207 | ||
| 14 | Jaime Alguersuari | STR-Ferrari | 1:48,655 | 1:49,464 | ||
| 15 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth | 1:52,875 | 1:52,270 | ||
| 16 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1:52,398 | 1:52,520 | ||
| 17 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:52,211 | |||
| 18 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1:52,884 | |||
| 19 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1:53,044 | |||
| 20 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:53,050 | |||
| 21 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:53,283 | |||
| 22 | Karun Chandhok | HRT-Cosworth | 1:56,299 | |||
| 23 | Bruno Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1:57,269 | |||
| 24 | Lucas di Grassi | Virgin-Cosworth | 1:59,977 |
