Sebastian Vettel claimed pole position during a difficult session for all the drivers as the rain came, stopped and then returned for several short bursts.
Lewis Hamilton starts alongside the Red Bull driver having qualified less than a tenth slower – he looked to have improved on his final lap, but the conditions in the final sector saw him cut the chicane.
The conditions were tricky, with grip levels changing dramatically throughout, but Valtteri Bottas made the most of it and put his Williams a career best third – the first time Williams have made Q3 this year.
Felipe Massa will start 16th after he caused a red flag during Q2 when he lost the rear of his Ferrari and impacted the barrier at turn three.
The session was paused as a result with just 1:59 left on the clock. All the remaining cars queued at the end of the pitlane in the hope of getting in a final lap as the track dried.
Jenson Button was the big loser as he incorrectly guessed the timing and didn’t get over the start/finish line with enough time to post a flying lap and therefore starts 14th, two-places behind team-mate Sergio Perez.
Paul di Resta and Romain Grosjean were the big losers, taking 17th and 19th respectively, though the Lotus man will start last when his penalty is applied.
Qualifying – 2013 Canadian Grand Prix
| # | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | S. Vettel | Red Bull | 1:22.318 | 1:28.166 | 1:25.425 |
| 05 | M. Webber | Red Bull | 1:23.247 | 1:28.145 | 1:26.208 |
| 14 | J. Button | McLaren | 1:24.021 | 1:30.068 | |
| 12 | S. Perez | McLaren | 1:24.176 | 1:29.761 | |
| 19 | R. Grosjean | Lotus | 1:25.716 | ||
| 04 | N. Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:23.840 | 1:28.420 | 1:26.008 |
| 06 | F. Alonso | Ferrari | 1:23.224 | 1:28.788 | 1:26.504 |
| 09 | K. Räikkönen | Lotus | 1:24.451 | 1:28.667 | 1:27.432 |
| 02 | L. Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:23.801 | 1:27.649 | 1:25.512 |
| 11 | N. Hulkenberg | Sauber | 1:23.899 | 1:29.435 | |
| 16 | F. Massa | Ferrari | 1:23.735 | 1:30.354 | |
| 17 | P. di Resta | Force India | 1:24.908 | ||
| 08 | A. Sutil | Force India | 1:24.551 | 1:28.799 | 1:27.348 |
| 03 | V. Bottas | Williams | 1:23.446 | 1:28.419 | 1:25.897 |
| 07 | J-E. Vergne | Toro Rosso | 1:24.159 | 1:28.527 | 1:26.543 |
| 10 | D. Ricciardo | Toro Rosso | 1:24.770 | 1:29.359 | 1:27.946 |
| 13 | P. Maldonado | Williams | 1:24.776 | 1:29.917 | |
| 15 | E. Gutierrez | Sauber | 1:24.408 | 1:30.315 | |
| 20 | J. Bianchi | Marussia | 1:26.508 | ||
| 21 | M. Chilton | Marussia | 1:27.062 | ||
| 22 | G. van der Garde | Caterham | 1:27.110 | ||
| 18 | C. Pic | Caterham | 1:25.626 |
