Further showers had fallen at Interlagos after the final Saturday practice but as the teams
prepared for qualifying the rain had eased but that there still could be further showers during qualifying. The first twenty minute period would commence with Buemi first out. With the possibility of rain expect everyone to go for a quick time . For the AT&T Williams team both Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg would leave the pit lane along with the all the cars, with intermediates been the tyre of choice. It was going to be a scramble as the drivers set their times.

Buemi set the first time with a 1m:22.744 with Petrov in second. Alguersuari would move ahead of Petrov while Nico would move into fifth, 1m:25.942. Rubens would rop to eighth with a 1m:28.077 but quickly this would become fourteenth. Nico was now in tenth while at the front it was Webber fastest, 1m:21.272, but Nico would improve on his next lap to go fastest with a 1m:21.077. Hamilton was now third from Alguersuari, but both Alonso and Kubica would move ahead of Hamilton. It was all changing rapidly as Schumacher went fastest with a 1m:20.940. Nico was now second but would again improve to be fastest with a 1m:20.537. Rubens was now up to second with a lap of 1m:20.848. But as the times came down it would again be Webber fastest but he too was beaten with Vettel now quickest, 1m:19.855.

Webber was now second from Rosberg, Nico, Rubens, Massa, Schumacher, Alguersuari, Petrov, and Buemi in tenth. Hamilton would be warned of further rain on its way as Alonso went fastest with a 1m:19.842. Vettel was second and Webber third. Rosberg was fourth followed by Hamilton, Nico, Schumacher, Buemi, Rubens, and Massa in tenth. Button would move up to eighth as Rubens dropped down to eleventh, 1m:20.848. The order at the front was Alonso with 1m:19.842 with Vettel second, Webber third, Rosberg fourth and Hamilton in fifth. Kubica and Button would move up to sixth and seventh as Vettel went fastest with a 1m:19.160. Nico was now up to fifth, 1m:20.050, with Rubens now in eleventh, 1m:20.570.

Hamilton was now third and Webber fourth. Buemi would put in a quick lap moving up to sixth while Rubens had dropped to twelfth. But Rubens would also find extra time moving up to fourth, 1m:19.943. This would see Webber drop to sixth but he also would find time to go fastest with a lap of 1m:19.025. Vettel would pit while Rubens and Nico were in fifth and sixth. Rubens would improve to now be fourth, 1m:19.901, with Hamilton splitting the Williams pair been in fifth. Nico was now sixth as Webber pitted. Three and a half minutes remaining and Kubica would take third with a 1m:19.729. Button was now up to sixth followed by Hamilton and Nico now in eighth. Rubens was again fourth but as the times improved it would be a Kobayashi who would jump up to fourth, 1m:19.741.

Rubens was now in fifth with Nico dropping to tenth. Only the Red Bull cars were in their pits as Nico came in with the end of the period. Right at the end of the period Alonso would move ahead of the Red Bull cars going fastest with a 1m:18.987. Those not making the cut were Sutil, Glock, Trulli, Kovalainen, Di Grassi, Klien, and Senna. At the front it was Alonso from Webber, Vettel, Kubica, Kobayashi, Massa, Rubens, Schumacher, Button, Hamilton, Nico, Buemi, Rosberg, Alguersuari, Heidfeld, Petrov, and Liuzzi in seventeenth.

With both Williams cars making it into the second period now the big challenge would be to make it into the third period. With the start of the fifteen minute period there would be a rush of drivers taking to the track all looking to set a quick time in case the weather gets worse. Nico would be first out with Buemi setting the first time, 1m:20.257. Alguersuari was second but Kubica was now fastest with a 1m:20.194. Alonso was now fastest, 1m:19.708 with Hamilton second. But Webber would move ahead of the pair to go fastest, 1m:19.694, while Schumacher would move into second. Nico was now in eighth but he would improve to be fifth, 1m:20.009. Kubica went fastest but was beaten by Rubens with a time of 1m:19.384.

Kubica was now second from Webber and Schumacher. Now it was Vettel's turn at the top with a time of 1m:19.218. The pace was improving every lap as Webber again set the quickest time with a 1m:18.851. Rubens was now in third while Nico had dropped to eleventh. Kubica was now second, 1m:19.131, seeing Rubens drop to fourth. Hamilton was in fifth from Schumacher, Button, and Alonso in eighth. Kubica would pit along with team-mate Petrov. Hamilton would also come in followed by Rubens and Schumacher. Nico had improved to now be in eighth, 1m:19.580. After quick stops only Petrov was still in his pit with just under five minutes remaining. Alguersuari was now ninth, 1m:19.581, but both Nico and Alguersuari would also lose a place when Rosberg moved into ninth.

Nico's next lap would see him in seventh, 1m:19.408, with three minutes remaining. Rubens was now in fifth but this would become sixth as Hamilton went third fastest. Massa was now up to eighth while Button was down in twelfth. Petrov would move into sixth, 1m:19.153. Rubens had now dropped to eighth and Nico tenth. But both drivers would improve with Rubens now fourth and Nico seventh. But Schumacher would also improve to be fourth pushing both Williams drivers down the order one place. As the period came to an end the top three had pitted while Kubica would move up to third with a time of 1m:18.877. Both Williams drivers would pit with Rubens in sixth and Nico eighth.

Massa would scrap through in tenth while those not making the cut were Button, Kobayashi, Rosberg, Alguersuari, Buemi, Heidfeld, and Liuzzi. The top ten were Webber from Vettel, Kubica, Hamilton, Schumacher, Rubens, Alonso, Nico, Petrov and Massa. A great effort from the Williams team and drivers to move through into the final period.

The final ten minute period would commence with Alonso first out followed by Nico and a train of cars behind him. Schumacher had yet to leave the pit lane but he would eventually come out with the track looking drier in places. The first time would be set by Alonso with a 1m:17.794 with Nico second. But Petrov and Kubica would move ahead of Nico while Webber went fastest, 1m:17.482, but he was also beaten by Hamilton and Vettel with Hamilton fastest, 1m:17.212. Schumacher was now in second and Vettel third. Alonso was fourth and Webber fifth. Nico was now sixth and Rubens tenth. The drivers would start to pit with just over five minutes remaining.

Rubens time was a 1m:18.349 while Nico had set a 1m:17.604. Hamilton was back out on the softer slick tyre as Nico also pitted. Schumacher would pit but was held there for a long time but would come back out seeing all ten cars now running. Hamilton was on a quick lap been fastest in the first sector. Kubica would run wide and off the track ruining his lap. Hamilton's time was a 1m:17.212 while both Webber and Nico wee on quick laps. Nico would go fastest with a 1m:16.373 but he was beaten by Hamilton, 1m:16.274. Schumacher was now third but Vettel would take this spot seeing Schumacher fourth and Alonso fifth.

But Alonso would also find time going fastest with a 1m:15.989, but again Nico would find time to go fastest with a 1m:15.462. Hamilton was now second but Webber would take this spot with a 1m:15.637. Vettel was now in second, 1m:15.519, with the period at an end. Alonso would fail to improve seeing Nico remain in pole position. Nico and the William s team just got the timing perfect for his runs in the final period. Nico was backed up by Rubens with a sixth, 1m:16.203. Nico was able to get in one more quick lap than anybody else. Simply amazing to see a Williams secure pole for the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix. This is the first Williams pole position since Nick Heidfeld took pole at the European Grand Prix back in 2005.

Patrick Head would later say that Nico just put the hammer down and just got on with it. Nico said in the post race interview "a big thank you to the team for putting good car together for qualifying."