German GP: Webber nips Hamilton and Vettel for pole

Mark Webber on his way to pole position

While the east coast of the USA bakes in record 100-degree weather, it was a cold 54-degrees at the Nurburgring in Germany Saturday. Mark Webber seems to like the fast circuits and he showed it again today taking his second consecutive pole position by holding off Lewis Hamilton in German Grand Prix qualifying at the Nurburgring.

World championship leader Sebastian Vettel will start only third for his home race – the first time all year he has been off the front row. Silverstone winner Fernando Alonso Ferrari had to settle for fourth in his Ferrari but he is not far off pole and the Ferrari certainly appears ready to challenge for a 2nd straight win.

Webber, who won the race here two years ago, was on top throughout Q3, producing a 1m30.251s on his first run and then improving to 1m30.079s for pole.

Nico Rosberg only did one attempt in Q3 to put his Mercedes in sixth, ahead of Jenson Button, who was a second behind McLaren teammate Hamilton.

Adrian Sutil reached Q3 for his home race and gave Force India eighth place, ahead of Renault's Vitaly Petrov and national hero Michael Schumacher in the second Mercedes.

Results

Pos

Driver Team Time Behind
1. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m30.079s +0.000s
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m30.134s +0.055
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m30.216s +0.137
4. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m30.442s +0.363
5. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m30.910s +0.831
6. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m31.263s +1.184
7. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m31.288s +1.209
8. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m32.010s +1.931
9. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m32.187s +2.108
10. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m32.482s +2.403
Q2 cut-off . 1m33.180s Gap
11. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m32.215s +1.217
12. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m32.560s +1.562
13. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 1m32.635s +1.637
14. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m33.043s +2.045
15. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m33.176s +2.178
16. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m33.546s +2.548
17. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m33.698s +2.700
Q1 Cut-off . 1m33.664s Gap
18. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m33.786s +1.960
19. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 1m35.599s +3.773
20. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m36.400s +4.574
21. Karun Chandhok Lotus-Renault 1m36.422s +4.596
22. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m36.641s +4.815
23. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 1m37.011s +5.185
24. Daniel Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth 1m37.036s +5.210