Canada – Qualifications: Rosberg secures pole ahead of Hamilton and Vettel

The sun is still shining over the Gilles Villeneuve circuit in Montreal for the seventh qualifying session of the season. First piece of information, Esteban Gutiérrez will not participate in this qualifying session following an accident during free practice 3.

Q1: Marcus Ericsson is the first to hit the track in his Caterham with Valtteri Bottas at the wheel of the Williams. The Finn is the first to set a reference time at 1:18.270. His teammate, Massa, improves to take the lead with 1:17.728. Bottas quickly retakes the lead.

The first laps are not easy as several drivers make mistakes at turn 1, like Hamilton, Massa, or Kobayashi, which is not ideal even though they have time to improve. Meanwhile, Rosberg takes the provisional lead with a 1:16.690, with just over two-tenths of a second ahead of Massa. But the time doesn’t last long as Hamilton sets a 1:16.438 to move to the top of the timesheet.

As the Williams drivers trade the 3rd place, Hamilton significantly improves his best time with a 1:15.750. The Force India drivers are among the first to switch to super-softs among the midfield teams as they struggle with the softs, and Pérez makes a mistake on his first timed lap but is able to continue.

Magnussen improves by setting the 2nd fastest time while Maldonado does no better than the 17th time and is currently eliminated. The Venezuelan pulls over into an escape area immediately afterward due to an apparent problem with the power unit of his Lotus.

16 seconds before the end of the session, the session is interrupted due to a contact with the wall for Marcus Ericsson’s Caterham. After a few minutes, the race management decides to end Q1 and proceed directly to Q2.

Eliminated in Q1: Maldonado, Chilton, Bianchi, Kobayashi, Ericsson, and Gutiérrez

Q2: Adrian Sutil is the first to take to the track at the wheel of his Sauber, followed by Hülkenberg’s Force India and the two Williams. All the drivers are setting off on super-softs for this second part of the qualification. Sutil sets the first time improved upon immediately by Hülkenberg, Bottas, and Massa in 1:15.773.

Ferrari, Toro Rosso, and Red Bull try their hand at the clock exercise without dislodging Massa’s Williams from the top of the timesheet. In their first laps, the Mercedes drivers finish far behind, 12 seconds for Hamilton and 24 for Rosberg, but the German improves afterwards. However, he must concede to Massa by 59 thousandths. Hamilton settles for the 3rd provisional time.

For the second run, Bottas improves but falls short by 33 thousandths from Massa who remains the benchmark. Vettel escapes the elimination zone on his last lap to set the 5th fastest time. Nico Rosberg improves on Massa’s mark but is quickly overtaken by Hamilton who ends Q2 on top with a 1:15.054. Great performance by Vergne who qualifies for Q3 in 10th place.

Eliminated in Q2: Hülkenberg, Magnussen, Pérez, Grosjean, Kvyat, and Sutil

Q3: No one is rushing to take the track for this last part of the qualifications. Bottas is the first as there are already less than 10 minutes remaining. The Finn is on super-soft tires. He sets the first benchmark with a 1:15.550 as his rivals have started. Rosberg does better with a 1:14.946 while Lewis Hamilton has to concede to his teammate with a 1:15.014. Alonso is 4th with a 1:16.137. Massa slots in front of Alonso but behind Bottas.

After the first round, Rosberg holds the provisional pole position ahead of Hamilton, Bottas, Massa, Ricciardo, Vettel, Alonso, Vergne, and Button. On his first fast lap, Räikkönen has to deal with traffic from drivers exiting the pits, which costs him time. The Finn only sets the 8th fastest time but can improve immediately after.

The checkered flag is presented but many drivers are on a fast lap. Rosberg improves his pole position with 1:14.874 and Hamilton has to concede by 79 thousandths! An all-Mercedes front row once again, Vettel is 3rd ahead of Bottas, Massa, Ricciardo, Alonso, Vergne, Button, and Räikkönen.

A new pole position for Rosberg and Mercedes this season, the German leads Hamilton in regular qualifying. Caution is advised with the Red Bull and Williams behind.