| Pos |
No |
Pilote |
Voiture |
Temps |
| 1 | 1 | Jackie Stewart | Tyrrell 003 Cosworth | 1:17.000 |
| 2 | 6 | Clay Regazzoni | Ferrari 312 B2 | 1:17,300 |
| 3 | 8 | Emerson Fittipaldi | Lotus 72D Cosworth | 1:17,400 |
| 4 | 17 | Mike Hailwood | Surtees TS9B Cosworth | 1:17,400 |
| 5 | 12 | Denny Hulme | McLaren M19A Cosworth | 1:17,400 |
| 6 | 7 | Mario Andretti | Ferrari 312 B2 | 1:17,500 |
| 7 | 5 | Jacky Ickx | Ferrari 312 B2 | 1:17,700 |
| 8 | 2 | Francois Cevert | Tyrrell 002 Cosworth | 1:17,800 |
| 9 | 3 | Ronnie Peterson | March 721 Cosworth | 1:17,800 |
| 10 | 16 | Tim Schenken | Surtees TS9B Cosworth | 1:17,800 |
| 11 | 10 | Jean-Pierre Beltoise | BRM P160B | 1:17,900 |
| 12 | 14 | Peter Revson | McLaren M19A Cosworth | 1:18,000 |
| 13 | 15 | Chris Amon | Matra MS120C | 1:18,000 |
| 14 | 19 | Graham Hill | Brabham BT33 Cosworth | 1:18,100 |
| 15 | 20 | Carlos Reutemann | Brabham BT34 Cosworth | 1:18,200 |
| 16 | 23 | Howden Ganley | BRM P160B | 1:18,300 |
| 17 | 26 | Dave Charlton | Lotus 72D Cosworth | 1:18,500 |
| 18 | 11 | Peter Gethin | BRM P160B | 1:18,700 |
| 19 | 9 | Dave Walker | Lotus 72D Cosworth | 1:18,700 |
| 20 | 18 | Andrea de Adamich | Surtees TS9B Cosworth | 1:18,900 |
| 21 | 4 | Niki Lauda | March 721 Cosworth | 1:18,900 |
| 22 | 21 | Henri Pescarolo | March 721 Cosworth | 1:19,000 |
| 23 | 24 | Helmut Marko | BRM P153 | 1:19,100 |
| 24 | 22 | Carlos Pace | March 711 Cosworth | 1:20,300 |
| 25 | 25 | Rolf Stommelen | Eifelland March 721 Cosworth | 1:20,400 |
| 26 | 27 | John Love | Surtees TS9 Cosworth | 1:21,000 |
| DNQ | 28 | William Ferguson | Brabham BT33 Cosworth | inconnu |
|
Grand Prix d'Afrique du Sud 1972