Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber has secured his maiden pole position this afternoon finishing ahead of Rubens Barrichello, Jenson Button and his teammate Sebastian Vettel in fourth. Lewis Hamilton was a much improved fifth with Heikki Kovalainen sixth. Adrian Sutil finished ahead of both Ferrari racers in P7 with Massa eighth and Raikkonen ninth while Nelson Piquet rounded out the top ten.

Track temperature was still at a very chilly 12 degrees as the lights went green for this afternoon’s all important qualifying hour as Sebastian Vettel led them away on his home track. Jenson Button was weaving on his out-lap as he attempted to put some heat into his Bridgestone rubber as the first times go down rather quickly due to threat of rain.

Hamilton goes to the top of the timesheets on his first run ahead of Alonso and Barrichello, the McLaren driver continuing on for an even faster second lap. Alonso goes second, Massa third. Button jumps into second but all eyes are on Sebastian Vettel who is setting the track alight to take P1 from Hamilton.  

Mark Webber is looking strong on the softer rubber and he takes P1 from his teammate with Fernando Alonso also on a flyer to go P2 after losing time to the Toyota of Timo Glock. Five minutes remain and a few drops of rain are falling as Button begins a flying lap but he only manages P6 behind his teammate.

The clock ticks down and not many drivers are still on track, but the sad news is that Timo Glock, who has been struggling all session, fails to make it past nineteenth and is eliminated. Robert Kubica Sebastien Buemi, Giancarlo Fisichella and Sebastien Bourdais join him.

Michael Schumacher is enjoying his time on pitwall for his home event as umbrellas go up in the grandstands. Rain is now falling ahead of the second session and despite the wet track, the drivers are out on slicks. All drivers are out hoping to bank a time before the track gets too wet. Nakajima slides as does Massa as the track proves to be too wet and they are back in for intermediate rubber, apart from Mark Webber, who tiptoes around the circuit.

Kovalainen has a moment but continues on as his teammate takes P1 ahead of Adrian Sutil and Nick Heidfeld. Nakajima slots into second as Webber puts in the fastest first second and third sectors to go top, with Vettel now second, Raikkonen third, Massa fourth.

Rubens Barrichello is on a flyer, the Brawn driver on dry rubber and setting the lap alight, three and a half seconds faster than Webber. All the drivers are now coming in for dry rubber and Vettel and Nakajima collide in pitlane!!! Sutil jumps into second then the Renault of Nelson Piquet takes the place away as his teammate spins off the track, and so does Raikkonen!

Button and Hamilton are safe crossing the line in P5 and 6 respectively as the session comes to an end. Sutil is third and in Q3! Force India will be happy as this is the first time ever in Q34 and at his home track!

Eliminated from this session were: Nick Heidfeld, Fernando Alonso, Kazuki Nakajima, Jarno Trulli and Nico Rosberg.

Session three begins and as the rain has stopped with no further showers expected in the next few minutes, Jenson Button heads out to bank a time. Barrichello is also out, as is Massa, Raikkonen Webber and Vettel. Barrichello sets the first time followed by Webber, Raikkonen and Massa. Vettel crosses the line for P2 as Button sets the fastest time in sector one.

Only two minutes remain as drivers begin their final laps. Sutil goes fourth while Buttona dn Hamilton trade fastest sector times. Hamilton moves into provisional pole a fraction os a second faster than Barrichello while Button goes third. Button crosses the line and begins his final flyer. Webber is now on a flyer and take sP1 from Hamilton! Vettel takes P2 but Button splits the two Red Bulls moments before Barrichello beats him! But Webber takes his maiden pole position!