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21st
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Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) pulled a second straight pole position out of his bag on a wet qualifying day ahead of the German Grand Prix.
Rain started coming down between Q1 and Q2 sessions, meaning drivers rushed out on intermediates in the first minutes of the second segment to try and get a lap out before the rain intensified. Many couldn't and were cut out from the top 10 shootout, most notably Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) who was definitely hoping for a different outcome on home turf.
The German ended up 17th, but will drop a further five places on the grid because of an unscheduled gearbox change.
The rain stopped for Q3, but puddles of standing water kept challenges in store for the drivers. As the session went on, the track dried meaning going out late was critical to post a fast lap.
Alonso had the timing right to challenge for pole position and benefited from Sebastien Vettel (Red Bull), his closest rival, being slowed down by his teammate, Mark Webber. The Australian took third behind the pair, but was another victim of the grid penalty drops, he too will loose places because an unscheduled gearbox change, just like Rosberg.
This left local hero Michael Schumacher, who provisionally held pole but ended up posting the fourth best lap, to take his place on the grid. Countryman Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) sneaked his way up to the second row, beside Schumacher.
Pastor Maldonado (Williams-Renault) was another unsung hero of the wet qualifying session, bringing his Williams up to fifth.
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), Paul di Resta (Force India) and Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) all struggled with the changing conditions.
Qualifying results* - German Grand Prix (Hockenheim)
1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1min40.621 - Q3
2. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1min41.026 - Q3
3. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1min42.459 - Q3
4. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1min43.501 - Q3
5. Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1min43.950 - Q3
6. Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1min44.113 - Q3
7. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1min44.186 - Q3
8. Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1min41.496 - Q3 **
9. Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1min44.889 - Q3
10. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 11. 1min45.811 - Q3
11. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1min39.789 - Q2
12. Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1min39.933 - Q2
13. Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1min40.212 - Q2
14. Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1min40.752 - Q2
15. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1min41.551 - Q2
16. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1min16.741 - Q1
17. Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1min17.620 - Q1
18. Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1min18.531 - Q1
19. Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1min19.220 - Q1
20. Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1min40.574 - Q2 **
21. Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1min19.291 - Q1
22. Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1min19.912 - Q1
23. Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1min39.985 - Q2 ***
24. Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1min20.230 - Q1
* Unofficial timing
** Five-place grid penalty
*** Ten-place grid penalty
Rain started coming down between Q1 and Q2 sessions, meaning drivers rushed out on intermediates in the first minutes of the second segment to try and get a lap out before the rain intensified. Many couldn't and were cut out from the top 10 shootout, most notably Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) who was definitely hoping for a different outcome on home turf.
The German ended up 17th, but will drop a further five places on the grid because of an unscheduled gearbox change.
The rain stopped for Q3, but puddles of standing water kept challenges in store for the drivers. As the session went on, the track dried meaning going out late was critical to post a fast lap.
Alonso had the timing right to challenge for pole position and benefited from Sebastien Vettel (Red Bull), his closest rival, being slowed down by his teammate, Mark Webber. The Australian took third behind the pair, but was another victim of the grid penalty drops, he too will loose places because an unscheduled gearbox change, just like Rosberg.
This left local hero Michael Schumacher, who provisionally held pole but ended up posting the fourth best lap, to take his place on the grid. Countryman Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) sneaked his way up to the second row, beside Schumacher.
Pastor Maldonado (Williams-Renault) was another unsung hero of the wet qualifying session, bringing his Williams up to fifth.
Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren), Paul di Resta (Force India) and Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) all struggled with the changing conditions.
Qualifying results* - German Grand Prix (Hockenheim)
1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1min40.621 - Q3
2. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1min41.026 - Q3
3. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1min42.459 - Q3
4. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1min43.501 - Q3
5. Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1min43.950 - Q3
6. Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1min44.113 - Q3
7. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1min44.186 - Q3
8. Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1min41.496 - Q3 **
9. Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1min44.889 - Q3
10. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 11. 1min45.811 - Q3
11. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1min39.789 - Q2
12. Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1min39.933 - Q2
13. Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1min40.212 - Q2
14. Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1min40.752 - Q2
15. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1min41.551 - Q2
16. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1min16.741 - Q1
17. Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1min17.620 - Q1
18. Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1min18.531 - Q1
19. Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1min19.220 - Q1
20. Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1min40.574 - Q2 **
21. Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1min19.291 - Q1
22. Pedro De La Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1min19.912 - Q1
23. Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1min39.985 - Q2 ***
24. Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1min20.230 - Q1
* Unofficial timing
** Five-place grid penalty
*** Ten-place grid penalty