Sebastian Vettel ended the final practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix with the fastest time.
But there was very little between him and Fernando Alonso – Vettel was just 0.006s faster than the Ferrari driver.
Lewis Hamilton, who was quickest in both sessions on Friday, ended the final hour of practice in third place.
Nico Rosberg’s session was over before he had completed a single lap. He told the team the car felt strange when he did his first practice start, and came to a halt at turn seven on his installation lap.
He wasn’t the only driver who failed to get a lap in. Jean-Eric Vergne ran onto the grass at the exit of turn one at the start of his first time lap and skidded into the barriers.
Jenson Button joined the track early, needing to make up time after technical problems limited his running on Friday.
Vettel led the running to begin with on soft tyres, before his best time was beaten by Alonso. Hamilton was not far behind the Ferrari driver on the track, and edged Alonso’s mark by 0.025s.
With a quarter of an hour to go Vettel found more time on the softs, beating Hamilton’s mark by a thousandth of a second.
Alonso was the first of the three onto the super-soft tyres and went fastest with a 1’14.448 on his first effort.
Vettel edged his time by six-thousandths of a second with his best effort, aided by a tow from Schuamcher’s Mercedes. Hamilton also took to the track on super-soft tyres but did not improve his time.
Mark Webber was fourth-fastest ahead of Pastor Maldonado, Felipe Massa and Michael Schumacher.
Romain Grosjean led the Lotus pair with Kimi Raikkonen under investigation for cutting across the final corner on his way into the pits.
Nico Hulkenberg completed the top ten for Force India. Team mate Paul di Resta was 11th, and unhappy at being held up by Button. The McLaren driver ended the session 15th.
Complete session times
| Pos | Driver | Car | FP1 | FP2 | FP3 | Fri/Sat diff | Total laps |
| 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1’15.682 | 1’15.531 | 1’14.442 | -1.089 | 95 |
| 2 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1’15.842 | 1’15.313 | 1’14.448 | -0.865 | 87 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’15.564 | 1’15.259 | 1’14.712 | -0.547 | 95 |
| 4 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1’15.897 | 1’15.907 | 1’14.724 | -1.173 | 90 |
| 5 | Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Renault | 1’16.859 | 1’15.987 | 1’14.755 | -1.232 | 87 |
| 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1’16.619 | 1’15.410 | 1’14.767 | -0.643 | 77 |
| 7 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1’16.264 | 1’15.697 | 1’14.796 | -0.901 | 79 |
| 8 | Romain Grosjean | Lotus-Renault | 1’16.890 | 1’16.360 | 1’14.873 | -1.487 | 85 |
| 9 | Kimi Raikkonen | Lotus-Renault | 1’17.014 | 1’16.562 | 1’14.977 | -1.585 | 96 |
| 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India-Mercedes | 1’15.986 | 1’15.799 | 1’14.992 | -0.807 | 90 |
| 11 | Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes | 1’16.460 | 1’15.544 | 1’15.067 | -0.477 | 83 |
| 12 | Sergio Perez | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’16.249 | 1’15.898 | 1’15.112 | -0.786 | 91 |
| 13 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’16.000 | 1’15.651 | 1’15.126 | -0.525 | 92 |
| 14 | Bruno Senna | Williams-Renault | 1’18.762 | 1’17.022 | 1’15.237 | -1.785 | 80 |
| 15 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’16.347 | 1’15.812 | 1’15.327 | -0.485 | 45 |
| 16 | Daniel Ricciardo | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’17.580 | 1’17.716 | 1’15.498 | -2.082 | 84 |
| 17 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1’15.782 | 1’15.878 | |||
| 18 | Vitaly Petrov | Caterham-Renault | 1’17.935 | 1’17.075 | 1’16.268 | -0.807 | 88 |
| 19 | Heikki Kovalainen | Caterham-Renault | 1’18.177 | 1’16.981 | 1’16.545 | -0.436 | 60 |
| 20 | Jean-Eric Vergne | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’17.352 | 1’17.124 | |||
| 21 | Pedro de la Rosa | HRT-Cosworth | 1’18.182 | 1’18.908 | 1’17.705 | -0.477 | 74 |
| 22 | Timo Glock | Marussia-Cosworth | 1’20.004 | 1’19.084 | 1’17.974 | -1.11 | 84 |
| 23 | Narain Karthikeyan | HRT-Cosworth | 1’19.354 | 1’19.378 | 1’18.189 | -1.165 | 65 |
| 24 | Charles Pic | Marussia-Cosworth | 1’20.087 | 1’19.902 | 1’18.684 | -1.218 | 64 |
2012 Canadian Grand Prix
Image © Red Bull/Getty images
Jon (@patomilan)
9th June 2012, 16:11
Wow! Thats a close field1 second within all teams except for Caterham, Marussian and HRT ofcourse.
bobo (@bobo)
9th June 2012, 16:13
HRT seem to be improving though… don´t they?
Oople
9th June 2012, 16:31
Perhaps the whole DLR being on top of the Speed Trap before wasn’t COMPLETELY down to Slipstream, by the looks of them now.
Perhaps their efforts have been primarily on Straight Line Speed improvements.
Oople
9th June 2012, 16:32
That being said, being at the TOP is still a complete blunder :P
BasCB (@bascb)
9th June 2012, 17:07
Looks like their skinny wing/low downforce trim is helping them get in front of Virgin at least @bobo
bobo (@bobo)
10th June 2012, 9:36
So it seems @bascb. Many ‘commenters’ expect it to be a one-off, I’m not so sure… first I need to see if they can actually do better in the race, then we can talk about other races. I like HRT but I think they have a very long road ahead of them and just seeing some improvement is an improvement.
Osvaldas31 (@osvaldas31)
9th June 2012, 16:14
Red Bull look very strong, at least in Vettel’s hands, but I think Alonso will win this weekend, because that Ferrari is improving by miles every race!
matt90 (@matt90)
9th June 2012, 16:15
It was at this race last year that HRT earned the position they needed to beat Virgin in the standings. It’s looking like they might be about to have another good race.
necrodethmortem (@necrodethmortem)
9th June 2012, 16:17
Does Rosberg need a new gearbox?
BBT (@bbt)
9th June 2012, 16:17
So RBR have to mod the car again, this time wheelhub… see autosport
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/100230
As I said before this kind of thing happens all the time, it is just the media is picking up on it at the moment.
Not hurting their pace, although when the times are this close it might over the whole course of the weekend.
Pedro Costa (@pnunocosta)
9th June 2012, 16:37
I just don’t understand how only after several races they have to change the pieces that don’t comply with the rules! FIA should be more rigorous with the scrutineering.
Besides red bull doesn’t seem to be playing fair, just too many issues.
Karthikeyan (@ridiculous)
9th June 2012, 17:13
or people are nitpicking them because they are the reigning champions and not their favourite team
BBT (@bbt)
9th June 2012, 17:57
To be fair, as I have said many times over the last week, it’s not just RBR, its just the media picking up of the current RBR issues.
Others have had to do the same in the past for different reasons, and for all we know this season as well. It is normally resolved outside the spot light of the media behind closed doors.
BasCB (@bascb)
9th June 2012, 17:10
It just keeps amazing me what these teams come up with @bbt, I am curious how many of those kind of clever things are there on the different cars in the field!
aka_robyn (@)
9th June 2012, 17:36
No, @bascb, they’re only on Red Bull’s car! Those cheating cheaters, always trying to get away with something clever. All the other teams are like, “No! Some might interpret this as a loophole/gray area in the rules that could be exploited, but it just doesn’t seem sporting, old chap! None of that nonsense for us!”
BasCB (@bascb)
9th June 2012, 17:44
exactly until the point comes where they are being found out, they are @aka_robyn!
SatchelCharge (@satchelcharge)
9th June 2012, 17:46
Lol presumably, @aka_robyn. Maybe they just haven’t been found out yet :P I have to say, though, the FIA should get its act together. I appreciate the incredible challenges of all they must do, both before and during the season, but for these things to go unnoticed for six races…
SatchelCharge (@satchelcharge)
9th June 2012, 17:53
Haha damn you bascb, I should have refreshed before posting.
brny666
9th June 2012, 19:28
Oh you, that made my day that comment, after reading your post my laptop started excreting sarcasm in liquid form.
aka_robyn (@)
9th June 2012, 21:34
Then my work here is done… ;-)
BBT (@bbt)
9th June 2012, 18:07
@bascb They are all up to the same games, as I’m sure you’ve guessed, or allude too.
At the moment RBR seem to be getting caught out but others have in the past and some have seemed to be victimised by the FIA in the past, most notably Mclaren. When something happens / gets found out, people look for more and find more.
Just like drivers on track behaviour, you get penalised once and before you know it you are under the spot light and seem to get penalised for everything. It all balances out in the end.
I don’t consider RBR cheaters, you either push too limits or end up being a loser, sometimes it’s just the wrong side of the rules and you get caught sometimes you get away with it (for a while).
BasCB (@bascb)
9th June 2012, 19:50
exactly that @bbt!
@HoHum (@hohum)
10th June 2012, 4:24
HRT could get away with almost anything, so long as they stay at the back of the field no-one cares.
BOSS (@boss)
9th June 2012, 16:20
go hamilton go
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
9th June 2012, 16:25
Considering the track, which always produce some spectacular races, and the close field, this should be a very special one.
Qualy will be a treat! Can’t wait!
magon4 (@magon4)
9th June 2012, 16:28
wazzup with Button? strange stuff… this has been going on too long.
BBQ2
9th June 2012, 16:34
lOLz, don’t begin with JB-debate now pleeeeeze! I have been enjoying the silence of his fans for some time now … :p
Oople
9th June 2012, 16:34
It’s, perhaps, something similar to Hamilton last year, where the situation just isn’t going completely his way, and thus is losing his focus somewhat.
Although, unlike Hamilton, the problem seems far more driving-caused for Button.
Sam B (@sb360)
9th June 2012, 16:35
He does seem to be struggling massively compared to Hamilton. The only weekend he seems to have bettered Hamilton was Melbourne and even then I don’t really think it was on outright pace. I just don’t think he is as comfortable in a slightly “lairy” car as Hamilton is.
Nickpkr
9th June 2012, 16:43
Massa rises and button falls, I wish Di resta gets his seat next year or even later this season a seat trade Button could Help Forcé India develop car and Di resta can get podiums consistently at Mclaren.
Well maybe to early but can’t stand button complains as he is purely product of opportunism and shear luck !
magon4 (@magon4)
9th June 2012, 16:51
Ive always thought him to be a great talent, since his F1 debut. He is really very good. It seems he cant handle the tyres, something he is famous for being good at… and that HAM is faster was always obvious.
BBT (@bbt)
9th June 2012, 20:40
Agree with that. Button is an amazingly good driver. I thought that from his debut. Talk of luck is wishful thinking, and plan wrong, if you have got the quality you make your own luck, in fact it’s not really luck at all.
However in this field of drivers their are a few that are clear quicker than him and he is struggling more this season than ever before IMO.
BBT (@bbt)
9th June 2012, 20:46
*plan = plain*
Remember Button said, after testing, they have an upgrade for Australia that was more than bolting down-force on the car, well apparently that makes the feel of the car difficult and therefore the set-up difficult. It came together in Australia but they have struggled ever since especially with the other overtaking in having the fastest car and becoming more competitive.
Tom (@newdecade)
9th June 2012, 16:33
Looks like we will see minimal running on the super softs on sunday. Did anyone do sufficient stints on those to see how long they will last? Not very would be my guess on this tarmac.
BBT (@bbt)
9th June 2012, 20:47
They were lasting very well indeed.
Funkyf1 (@funkyf1)
9th June 2012, 16:42
Webber for pole!
Pedro Costa (@pnunocosta)
9th June 2012, 16:44
So it seems will have a fratricide qualification between the top 3 of FP3 and a dark horse named rosberg. I’m still beting on lotus but only for the race, they will qualify in the bottom of the top 8.
JamieFranklinF1 (@jamiefranklinf1)
9th June 2012, 16:49
It’s going to be an interesting quali and race. Personally, I can see Hamilton, Vettel and Alonso fighting all weekend, and with their aggressive nature, I can also see Maldonado and Massa having a coming together.
dkpioe
9th June 2012, 17:01
vettel was also over .1 seconds faster at sector 2 on another lap before being held up by backmarkers and was very quick on both tyres as was alonso. we didnt see is hamilton could go faster on red tyres, but assume he would have been .3 faster also, so its looking very close.
i think rosberg would be fighting up their too, i dont think schumacher has what is takes, but maybe the mercedes drs will do the trick in qualifying.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
9th June 2012, 17:44
Vettel’s thrown a curve ball but I still think Hamilton and Mercedes will be the driver/team to beat. .2s is a reasonable gap but I expect Hamilton will pull something out in qualifying.