Alonso was the first of the top three to cross the line, usurping Hamilton as
the fastest man, before Vettel surpassed him by just over a second and then
Massa split them with his final lap. Vettel’s Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber
was fifth, with Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg completing the top six.
Rain began falling midway through the second part of qualifying, and Force
India’s Paul di Resta was the driver to suffer most conspicuously. The Scot
had been called in by his team to change tyres, but to do so he was forced
to abort a faster lap, and by the time he was out on the track the shower
had resumed.