Light rain started to fall ten minutes before the start of Q1 and everyone went out on Intermediate tyres. The track dried gradually, making for two very hectic final laps. Both Ferrari men fitted a fresh set of Intermediates with Fernando setting the fastest time of 2.00.190. Massa was seventh with a 2.01.462.
 
For Q2, the racing line was completely dry and both F138s were fitted with Hard slicks, with everyone switching to the Mediums in the final three minutes. Alonso was second in this session, lapping in 1.48.309, while Massa, doing just a single flying lap on the Mediums was ninth in 1.49.020.
 
In the ten minutes of Q3, the rain returned to the third sector of the track to complicate matters. After just one run on the Mediums, all the drivers pitted for Intermediates. The rain increased and then backed off again in the last two minutes, by which time Alonso and Massa had already taken the chequered flag. Fernando thus had to settle for ninth place with a 2.03.482, just ahead of Felipe who did a 2.04.059. Pole went to Lewis Hamilton in the Mercedes.