Montreal Qualifying: Seb's all that

It might be amazing to hear, but there are still those out there who think Sebastian Vettel isn't all that.

Yes I know, it seems astonishing given he's three world championships along at just the age of 25. It also seems amazing given the regularity with which he demonstrates fairly unequivocally that he is all that after all. But the arguments are familiar: he's over rated, it's all the car etc etc. Perhaps those that claim such don't watch F1 very much. Or else are otherwise engaged (perhaps washing their hair?) on the days such as today when Seb does underline a few of his talents with thick black lines. It of course couldn't possibly be the case that they are guilty of only seeing what they want to see - could it?

Sebastian Vettel blitzed another session in tricky conditions
Credit: Alex Comerford / CC

Yes reader, Sebastian Vettel did indeed emerge on top in today's Canadian Grand Prix qualifying session, and in so doing showed many of those talents that I made reference to. It rained on and off throughout the hour (no less than the fourth qualifying hour of seven in 2013 to feature precipitation), meaning the track was damp for the duration but at something of an varying level. This resulted in rather a lot of tip-toe progress as drivers, also no doubt with the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve's nearby walls in mind, felt their way cautiously. Well, 21 of them did anyway. For young Seb alone the track seemed almost un-slippy, and despite the rotating top order that is often the case on such days he always seemed capable of blitzing whatever times had been set before, almost contemptuously. Sure enough, by the end of it all he remained on his pedestal.

Of Seb's many virtues possibly the most impressive is that on days when the level of grip is uncertain his confidence is supreme, as is his ability to find the limit immediately a lot like someone has flicked a switch. All this was on full beam in Montreal qualifying. Furthermore it is a continuation of a season wherein Seb's been able to make the very best of things just about everywhere.

Not even the Mercedes Saturday juggernaut could beat Vettel today, though Lewis Hamilton pedalled hard and came a close second in the end. Indeed, he felt he might have actually denied Seb pole but for an error on a later lap. While Nico Rosberg was behind for once, and will start fourth tomorrow.

Between the two Mercs on the starting grid we have the other star of qualifying, and a far less widely anticipated one. Valtteri Bottas arrived in the sport at the start of this year in a blaze of mooted potential, but the underperforming Williams FW35 has rather cloaked whatever light that may be there. Today's rain gave Bottas his opportunity, and those who'd done their homework on him knew all about his ability to adapt and his resultant speed in the wet. Sure enough he was quick throughout and by the end of the hour ending up third didn't seem especially incongruous. Bottas himself admitted that without the heavens opening he wouldn't have been near that slot, so it shouldn't be heralded as a Williams revival yet, but it remains a worthy effort.

If the rain stays away is Alonso the man to watch tomorrow?
Credit: Alex Comerford / CC

So what of tomorrow? If it remains dry then perhaps the one we should be keeping our eyes on hasn't even been mentioned yet. The evidence of Friday's running on a dry track was that the Ferrari - or more to the point Fernando Alonso's Ferrari - looked the quickest thing out there. He'll start tomorrow in sixth place, related to the not unreasonable suggestion by driver and team that their F138's virtue of not putting much heat through its tyres becomes a vice on cool, damp days when heat needs to be got into the rubber quickly. This left Alonso driving as if on ice (and Felipe Massa went further with firm contact with the scenery in Q2).

Thus if it does not rain tomorrow the key story of the race may be how quickly Alonso can clear the traffic to have a crack at Vettel. And in these circumstances there is some reason to think that things could open up to him: Bottas and probably the Mercedes (given what seemed on Friday to be their continuing tyre troubles) are expected to clear out of the way pretty quickly. Which leaves Mark Webber, who often doesn't get off the line all that well and in any case may not be minded to help his stable mate unduly, given everything.

If it does rain tomorrow however (and showers are forecast) then there's probably little point in trying to predict anything. One recalls the 2011 race here on a similar day, which was one of the most madcap in history.

But on second thoughts things might not be that hard to predict. If it rains - perhaps even if it shines - Sebastian Vettel looks rather well-placed.