Inexplicable scenes at Lotus.

The team lets both cars out together, they almost hit each other, then trundle down the pit lane side by side.

I guess you'd call that equal treatment.

As it stands, your top 10 is:

Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Maldonado, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Perez, Ricciardo

Dazzla: Those Lotuses look quicker than usual, could be interesting.

Grapevine Grand Prix: Rosberg, Grosjean, Hamilton.

Jono Holland: Safe bet one of the Mercs, a good bet is Raikkonen or Grosjean.

Nico Rosberg: "I didn't have grip on the rear - no grip on the rear."

The Mercedes boys have the super-soft tyres on and duly they go top by some margin.

Lewis Hamilton does a 1:14.393 - half a second quicker than the pole here a year ago - to take top spot.

Image source, Getty Images

Team-mate Nico Rosberg does a 1:14.702 to slot into second place.

The Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen goes to the top of the early standings.

A 1:15.126 is good, but bear in mind those Mercedes did 1:14.6s in Q2.

Sebastian Vettel to BBC Sport: "As soon as we went out for the first run, we didn't have the power. We tried everything to get it back, but we couldn't. I don't think it has anything to do with the engine, it is more on the electronic side.

"It is what it is, hopefully Kimi goes fine and is able to put Ferrari where it belongs. "

The top-10 qualifying shoot-out begins.

Hamilton v Rosberg. Who's it gonna be?

OUT:

11 Sainz, 12 Verstappen, 13 Ericsson, 14 Alonso, 15 Nasr

IN:

1 Hamilton, 2 Rosberg, 3 Grosjean, 4 Raikkonen, 5 Bottas, 6 Maldonado, 7 Hulkenberg, 8 Kvyat, 9 Perez, 10 Ricciardo

Minty Joe: That McLaren is still a dog. Feel for Alonso.

Simon Cree: Vettel, Massa, Alonso, Button... The old hands are dropping like flies in Montreal.

Kyel Matin: Vettel out Q1 but I expect him to make at least 4th in the race.

Eddie Jordan
BBC F1 chief analyst

"Felipe Nasr's car was basically a write off. But they (Sauber) did an outstanding job given the circumstances."

He was always struggling and Fernando Alonso duly goes out in Q2.

Daniil Kvyat was in danger in the Red Bull and improved, dragging Carlos Sainz into the drop zone.

Max Verstappen is also eliminated in 12th. He will start 20th after eight of his 15 grid-drop penalties are applied.

The Saubers of Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr also miss out.

Final runs are under way now. It's going to be tight between the Toro Rossos, Saubers and even Red Bull.

Sebastian Vettel talking to Jennie Gow on 5 Live: "We have a strong car, we can do a lot tomorrow. It's easier when you start in the front though."

Lotus on Twitter:, external Pastor then Romain out for fresh Q2 super soft runs.

Image source, Lotus F1

Mercedes on Twitter:, external BOOM! 1:14.661 from Lewis! THAT was a lap!!

Your men in the drop zone at present are...

Sainz, Verstappen, Nasr, Alonso and Ericsson.

Hear that? That's the sound of Mercedes unleashing the beast.

A 1:14.661 from Lewis Hamilton - the best of the weekend by a whole second.

Good grief.

Image source, Getty Images