Webber Improves on Form; Takes Pole in Germany

NURBURGRING, Germany- After dominating the entire third practice session, Mark Webber continued his luck at the qualifying session later in the afternoon, by posting a 1:30:251, to win pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix of Germany at the  Nurburgring. A happy Lewis Hamilton finished in second, and home hero and series leader Sebastian Vettel took his lowest grid position this season in third.

“That was my complete limit, it was a pretty good lap," he said. "It's very satisfying to see that no one grabs you at the end there as it was an anxious wait those last 30 seconds."

As always on this historic track, there were threats of rain, but it never came. This made the first session extremely trouble free, as Ferrari’s Felipe Massa recorded the first session’s best time of 1:31:826. Hamilton improved the best time of the day, as the Englishman set a fast time of 1:30: 998 in the following session. This session only had one big surprise as Renault’s Nick Heidfeld got bounced out by his teammate, Russia’s Vitaly Petrov, as the German failed to go any further in qualifying.

But Webber knew when to advance when it counted, and the Australian waited a few minutes before setting not only the best time of the session, but the fastest time of the day. Hamilton came close, but a second place finish made everyone at his team cheer as the 2008 world champion starts in the front row for the first time this season.

Ferrari never got going in these sessions, and Fernando Alonso and Massa took fourth and fifth respectively, while Nico Rosberg took sixth. Jenson Button had a quiet day, but took seventh, while Another German on his home track,, Adrian Sutil, recorded his best qualifying position of his career in eighth. Petrov finished ninth, and Michael Schumacher finished out the top ten, but was still pleased for race day.

“Yes it was a good place, but there is the race and we are in a good position.” Commented the seven time world champion. “We need to have a little luck that will help us win.”

Vettel was brief, but was just as optimistic.

“I am very happy with my qualifying for tomorrow,” he said. “Thanks to all the crew, and tomorrow we will see how it will work.”

For Webber himself, it was an opportunity to challenge his teammate, and decrease his huge margin in the championship.

"My form has been getting better and this track has not been too bad for me in the past," Webber added. "I must say this session went pretty well with the exception of first option run in Q2. That wasn't very smooth, but the other two laps were good.

"The boys did a great job on the car - there were some late nights in the lead up to here but we got it together in the end. I was thinking on the in-lap if someone gets me they deserve it because I couldn't have got much more out of it."

For Webber himself, taking pole is a good sign at this famous track, which he won his first career grand prix race in 2009.