Kimi Raikkonen, Vettel’s Ferrari team-mate, qualified fourth, in front of the Williams in fifth and sixth. Jenson Button will start 20th and last, unable to set a lap due to another mechanical failure for McLaren.
The indications from morning practice were that it would be close. Hamilton set the fastest time, with Vettel close behind, splitting with the Mercedes duo. As the temperature cooled, the sun went down and the lights came on, the anticipation for perhaps the closest qualifying session of the year was palpable.
Raikkonen immediately blundered on his first run, locking up at turn one. Rosberg and Hamilton soon took the top two spots with their opening efforts.
Then Button’s already miserable weekend got even worse. He had not even had the chance to set a time when his McLaren-Honda stopped due to a loss of all power. Ron Dennis, the McLaren chairman, threw his arms up in frustration. The disappointment at their woeful start to the year only builds.
Button last started a race 20th in Canada seven years ago – again with Honda. It was not how he wanted to celebrate a century of races with McLaren.
What a phenomenal decision it was by Hamilton to leave his compatriot at the famous British team. As all the teams put on the soft tyres at the end of the first segment, Ferrari went fastest again, before Hamilton surpassed them.
There was some cheer for McLaren, as Alonso made it into Q2 in ninth with a barnstorming lap. A conversation before qualifying with the former King of Spain, Juan Carlos, was clearly the extra motivation he needed.
It was also the first time this year he or Button have made it out of Q1. Those who missed out were – predictably – the two Manors, Pastor Maldonado, and Daniil Kvyat. The young Russian, promoted to Red Bull from Toro Rosso for this season, has had an awful start to his career at the senior team.
In the second part of qualifying, Hamilton began to show his true speed. His first lap was an astonishing 1.2 seconds quicker than Rosberg, well out in front. Raikkonen and Vettel were nearly one second adrift.
The last few moments saw a frantic change of positions, with Carlos Sainz jnr. pinching 10th spot. His team-mate, 17-year-old Max Verstappen, was out of qualifying in 15th, joined by Alonso, the two Saubers and Sergio Perez.
The Ferraris came out first in the shootout for pole position, but much to everyone’s surprise, Daniel Ricciardo soon eclipsed them for Red Bull. Hamilton’s marker was still good enough for provisional pole, still one second off his best lap of the day.
Now on new tyres, Vettel went fastest, into the 1min32s for the first time. Rosberg could not beat him, but Hamilton, serene as ever, strode to pole position.