Hamilton takes his third consecutive pole

In Q1, the Mercedes have outperformed others, with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton first and second, ahead of Romain Grosjean and Sebastian Vettel. Behind, Paul di Resta was the big disappointment, being eliminated in the eighteenth position, but has complained of a possible misunderstanding that would have prevented him to do one more lap. The first removed was Esteban Gutierrez, who could not do any laps in the third practice session. The Caterham have surpassed Marussia, with Charles Pic ahead of Giedo van der Garde, and Jules Bianchi ahead of Max Chilton again, although today the differences were smaller.

In Q2, the Mercedes have repeated the double, while Romain Grosjean and Sebastian Vettel swapped positions. Therefore, it seemed the top four favorites to take the pole. Mark Webber has had problems with KERS and suffered until the last minute to go to Q3. Felipe Massa also had to make a lap at the last minute to go to Q3. Adrian Sutil has been eliminated, together with Nico Hulkenberg, Jenson Button (surpassed by Sergio Perez), Jean-Eric Vergne, Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas. Mercedes, Ferrari, Lotus and Red Bull have put both cars in Q3.

The Q3 has begun with a bang on the table of Sebastian Vettel. The German set the fastest time of the weekend and looked like it could be enough to take the pole. Romain Grosjean and Nico Rosberg came to beat his time, but in the third sector lost it all. Instead, Lewis Hamilton, at the last minute surpassed Sebastian Vettel, who was also improving in the last moment, but he has been only thousandths slower than Hamilton. Romain Grosjean and Nico Rosberg were third and fourth. Fernando Alonso completed the top 5. Mark Webber has had problems with the gearbox, together with those of KERS, and has not marked any time in Q3.