Montreal Practice 3: Webber fastest as rain returns to Ile Notre Dame

Red Bull's Mark Webber topped the timing screens at the end of Free Practice 3 which was held on a damp but drying Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix.

The normal one hour session was cut to 30 minutes as repairs were made to a barrier at Turn 11 which was damaged during a support event on the circuit. When the session started conditions were damp with a narrow, but growing, dry line emerging which forced teams to bolt on intermediates early on.

Half the field ventured out on track for sustained running, while the rest held back and only in the final five minutes did everyone (bar one) boot up with Pirelli super softs. Times tumbled continuously as and when drivers crossed the line delivering a flurry of fast laps. Webber was the last runner to take the flag on a flyer and promptly popped up at the top of the timing screens with a time of 1:17.895.

Adrian Sutil wassecond quickest in FP3

Although the session was virtually meaningless in terms of gathering data and race preparation for teams and drivers, the last few minutes did provide a glimpse of what could be the scenario in qualifying, where rain is not expected but cold and perhaps damp conditions are predicted to continue.

Webber's teammate and championship leader Sebastian Vettel was fifth fastest.

Force India continued to show strong pace with Adrian Sutil ending the session second on the timing screens, with Paul Di Resta briefly quickest before tumbling to seventh.

Lewis Hamilton was third best, with Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg sixth. The pair showing good pace in both wet and dry conditions.

Lewis Hamilton third fastest in FP3

Ferrari duo Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa ended up fourth and eighth, the Maranello squad confident the nature of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will suit their car in race trim, but qualifying could again be their Achilles heel.

Jenson Button was ninth in the McLaren. Teammate Sergio Perez, the only driver to go out on the harder compound tyres in the final five minute window, was down in 19th.

Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean were 10th and 11th respectively, the Lotus drivers struggling to get heat into the tyres.

Although at the mercy of the weather, qualifying in Montreal is sure to be an intriguing affair. Teams making the right calls at exactly the right times, coupled to their drivers delivering error free hot laps, will most likely to be found at the sharp end of the grid on race day.

Fernando Alonso fourth fastest in FP3