Brazilian GP: Barrichello secures great 12th grid position

Third placed Vettel continued to run as we had Kovalainen running on the soft tyre moving only to nineteenth. The top ten were all still in their pits but seventh placed Rosberg would come out with seven minutes remaining. Trulli was now in seventeenth with both Williams cars back out for a run on the soft tyres. Rubens and Pastor were now in eighteenth and nineteenth. Alonso and Sutil would join Rosberg out on the track followed by fourth placed Hamilton. Alguersuari was up to seventh, 1m:14.225, while Senna moved into tenth. Petrov was now in fifth as Pastor moved up to fourteenth but he would drop to sixteenth as others went faster, 1m:14.625. Rubens was on a far better lap moving up to ninth with a 1m:14.117. Di Resta was now in fourth while the top three; Button, Webber, and Vettel, remained in their pits. Sutil was now third, 1m:13.480, while Pastor had dropped to eighteenth. Rubens was now in tenth as Hamilton moved up to second with a time of 1m:13.361.

Schumacher was now sixth with one and a half minutes remaining. Alonso was ninth from Rosberg and Rubens. Rubens had pitted as the period drew to a close. As the period came to an end Button would be fastest from Hamilton, Webber, Sutil, Vettel, Schumacher, Di Resta, Petrov, Alonso, Rosberg, and Rubens in eleventh. For Pastor his qualifying was over after having failed to make the cut. Joining Pastor would be Kovalainen, Trulli, Liuzzi, Ricciardo, D'Ambrosio, and Glock.

With Rubens in eleventh it would be interesting to see if he could make it into the final period of qualifying in what is Rubens home race. Also making an appearance at Williams was Patrick Head who was making his last official appearance at a Grand Prix. The cars would line up at the end of the pit lane with soft tyres been the tyre of choice. There were reports of the possibility of rain explaining the urgency in setting a time. Rubens would join this group of drivers with all seventeen cars now out on the track. With all the cars out on the track the times would come quickly with Sutil setting a 1m:13.276 followed by Di Resta and Buemi. Vettel would go fastest with a 1m:12.446 while Hamilton moved into second, 1m:12.910. This would become fourth as Button went second and Webber third. Rosberg was now in second with a 1m:12.569. Button was now third from Webber and Hamilton. Rubens was now in fifteenth with a time of 1m:14.219.

Vettel would pit joined Rosberg. Alonso was now sixth followed by Sutil, Senna, Massa, and Di Resta in tenth. Rubens was now sixteenth as Hamilton moved into fourth with a 1m:12.811. Button was now in fifth as drivers started to pit. The track was now empty with seven and a half minutes remaining. Rubens was well inside the drop zone as Alguersuari was the first driver to come back out. He would be joined by Buemi and Sutil and Di Resta. Rubens was also back out as the top six remained in their pits. Massa was back out as Alguersuari set a 1m:13.804 to be twelfth. Three minutes remaining and Di Resta would stay tenth as Rubens first lap would see him jump up to twelfth with a time of 1m:13.801. Sutil was seventh from Massa, Senna, and Schumacher in tenth after setting a 1m:13.571. Rubens was on his next lap as Buemi complained of a loss of power and would pit. The period would come to an end with Rubens not able to improve pitting.

Through to the top ten were Vettel, Rosberg, Webber, Hamilton, Button, Alonso, Sutil, Massa, Senna, and Schumacher. Those not making the cut were Di Resta, Rubens, Alguersuari, Buemi, Petrov, Kobayashi, and Perez.

The final period of qualifying for 2011 would commence with Rosberg first out. There was very little risk of rain as Hamilton followed Rosberg out onto the track. We would have Vettel and Alonso come out, joined by Button and Webber. Rosberg would set a slow 1m:16.581 as Massa, Schumacher, Senna, and Sutil remained in their pits. Hamilton was also on a slow lap setting a 1m:17.588. Rosberg would set a 1m:13.159 but he would be passed by Vettel who would set a 1m:12.268 to be fastest. Webber was second from Button and Alonso. Alonso had been second but was beaten by Webber and Button. Hamilton was now in fifth with a time of 1m:12.906.

Sutil was out on the track while the other drivers had all pitted. Massa, Schumacher, and Senna had yet to come out for a run as Sutil started his timed lap. Vettel would also come back out as Massa came out for his first run. Senna was also out on the track and with Schumacher coming out we had all ten cars on the track. Vettel would go faster in sector one as Sutil moved into seventh with a 1m:13.348. Vettel was faster in sector two and would complete his lap setting a stunning 1m:11.918. Button would move up to second but Webber would pass him with a time of 1m:12.099. Hamilton's last lap would see him fourth from Alonso, Rosberg, Massa, Sutil, Senna, and Schumacher. A fantastic lap from Vettel would see him secure pole from Webber and Button. For Williams Rubens twelfth placed result was a great effort and is well placed for a good race on Sunday. But Pastor has struggled all weekend and his race is likely to be more of the same.