Webber takes maiden pole in Germany

Mark Webber put Red Bull in the top spot for Sunday's German Grand Prix, taking his first career pole at the Nurburgring.

The Brawns of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button start second and third, while Sebastian Vettel slots into fourth on the grid.

The resurgent McLarens make up the third row, and in the dying moments of Q3, Lewis Hamilton, fastest in morning practice, gave the Brawns and Red Bull's a run for the top spot.

Force India made a lot of noise leading up to this weekend, and while Giancarlo Fisichella was a Q1 victim, Adrian Sutil delivered, qualifying seventh and ahead of the Ferraris. Nelson Piquet rounded out the top 10 in his Renault, out qualifying teammate Fernando Alonso.

Things look glum here for Toyota, BMW Sauber and Williams, all buried deep on the grid, while Sebastien Bourdais, rumored to be on thin ice at STR, did nothing to improve his job prospects by qualifying last. Bourdais will move up to 19th, however, after Timo Glock was penalized for the 'potentially dangerous' blocking of Alonso in Q1.

Once again, weather was a factor, rain hitting at the start of Q2, and cool and wet looks likely to continue to be the story tomorrow as Webber looks for another career first.

Provisional grid and pre-race weights

1. Mark Webber, Red Bull, 661kg
2. Rubens Barrichello, Brawn GP, 647
3. Jenson Button, Brawn GP, 644
4. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 661
5. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, 654.5
6. Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren, 664.0
7. Adrian Sutil, Force India, 678.5
8. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, 673.5
9. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 674
10. Nelson Piquet, Renault, 676
11. Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber,
12. Fernando Alonso, Renault, 668.2
13. Kazuki Nakajima, Williams, 683.6
14. Jarno Trulli, Toyota, 683.7
15. Nico Rosberg, Williams, 689.6
16. Robert Kubica, BMW Sauber, 673.5
17. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso, 674.5
18. Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India, 662.5
19. Sebastien Bourdais, Toro Rosso, 689.5
20. Timo Glock, Toyota, 662.3*

*penalty

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Missed it? German GP qualifying as it happened

Qualifying - selected team and driver quotes

FIA post-qualifying press conference - Germany

Weekend weather update - threat of showers in Germany

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Webber takes maiden pole in Germany

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