The rain got heavier at the start of Q3 and drivers were involved in a mad scramble for getting their intermediates on, leaving di Resta the only man on track.

His time seemed enough for Force India's second pole in F1 before Nico Rosberg produced a faster lap in his late run. Rosberg’s 2:02.251 was soon bettered by the top three drivers. Adrian Sutil was 12th fastest in the other Force India.