The top 10 was rounded out by Felipe Massa, Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo,
who did well to beat some bigger names into the final qualifying session.
Two former world champions fell in the second part of qualifying as neither
Fernando Alonso nor Jenson Button could replicate the pace of their
respective team-mates.
Alonso, who has been struggling in his Ferrari for the majority of the
weekend, was under a tenth slower than Massa but a lock-up in his final lap
meant he could not haul himself into the pole position shoot-out.
Button had shown promise of a strong qualifying performance and was not slow
in venting his disappointment over the team radio at only being able to
secure 13th place on the grid in his McLaren.
Fellow Brit Paul Di Resta beat Button to 12th place while the second Torro
Rosso of Jean-Eric Verne will start from 14th.
Williams got both of their drivers into the second section but neither could
progress further with Pastor Maldonado and Valtteri Bottas 15th and 16th,
respectively.
Adrian Sutil complained of both understeer and oversteer in his Force India
during Saturday morning practice and it appeared those demons were not dealt
with in time as he slipped out in the first section of qualifying.
Sauber’s Esteban Gutierrez only went one better and qualified 17th with the
Caterham of Giedo van der Garde the quickest of the new teams.
The Marussia of Jules Bianchi separated Van Der Garde and the sister Caterham
of Charles Pic while Max Chilton will start from the back of the grid.