Lewis Hamilton on pole at British Grand Prix

Hamilton clocked a 1:32.248 during the initial Q3 runs, which ultimately proved to be the fastest as track conditions fell away from the drivers.

Rosberg, who had topped the previous Q2 phase, complained of understeer in the top 10 shootout, and ultimately finished a tenth adrift.

Massa beat Bottas to third by 0.064s, while Kimi Räikkönen out-qualified Ferrari team-mate Sebastian Vettel for only the second time this season.

Daniil Kvyat led Red Bull's charge in seventh, while Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr., Force India's Nico Hülkenberg and team-mate Daniel Ricciardo completed the top 10.

Sergio Pérez was unable to live with the pace of team-mate Hülkenberg as he dropped out of Q2 in 11th, just ahead of Lotus driver Romain Grosjean.

Max Verstappen complained of poor traction throughout qualifying en route to 13th, ahead of Pastor Maldonado, who had multiple lap times deleted.

Sauber's Marcus Ericsson was the other driver to drop out in Q2, and will start alongside team-mate Felipe Nasr, who missed out on progressing by one hundredth.

McLaren-Honda's struggle continued in the form of a double Q1 elimination, with Fernando Alonso a couple of tenths up on Jenson Button.

Manor Marussia pair Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi brought up the rear, Will Stevens a comfortable two seconds clear of his team-mate.