Fernando Alonso sails to stunning pole in the rain at Hockenheim

Fernando Alonso has sailed to a superlative pole position for tomorrow’s German Grand Prix, as the rain once again returned throughout the qualifying hour. Local hero Sebastian Vettel will start alongside the Spaniard, with Mark Webber 3rd albeit set to take a 5-place grid penalty.

The qualifying session initially started in dry conditions, with the threat of raining looming in the distance. Largely due to this threat, the 24 drivers immediately took to the track, eager to get a banker lap set. Pastor Maldonado set the initial pace early on, with a 01:18.317. The times then began to tumble as the field gradually elected for the softer (yellow) Pirelli compound.

Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Fernando Alonso, and Lewis Hamilton were amongst many who shared the top spot throughout the opening 20 minute session. As the dark clouds glided overhead, it was inevitable that rain would strike during Q2. This being the case, many drivers returned to the track in the dying minutes of the session, as Kim Raikkonen went fastest with a 01:15.693.

Michael Schumacher was exceedingly lucky to progress to Q2, as the 7-time World Champion narrowly squeezed through in the dying seconds. This meant Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne was eliminated as checkered flag emerged, along with the usual suspects of the two Caterhams, Marussias and HRTs.

Jenson Button was the first driver to take to the track in Q2, as the rain began to fall upon the Hockenheimring. The whole field elected to run the intermediate (green) tyre initially, as the conditions steadily worsened throughout the 15 minute session. The 2009 World Champion set the initial pace with a 01:39.010, before Pastor Maldonado and then Sebastian Vettel rose to the top.

Michael Schumacher then asserted his authority on the wet proceedings, as the Mercedes driver set a 01:38.010. Lewis Hamilton then shot to the top, with a 01:37.927 as the full wet (blue) tyres began to look more appealing to the drivers as they struggled in the treacherous conditions. Sergio Perez ran wide at turn 13, where many drivers have come unstuck this weekend.

The Mexican driver was subsequently eliminated as Q2 came to a damp end, as Daniel Ricciardo, Kamui Kobayashi, Felipe Massa, Romain Grosjean, Bruno Senna, and Nico Rosberg joined Sergio Perez in dropping out of qualifying.

As the rain intensified towards the end of Q2, all the drivers partaking in the top 10 shootout elected for the Cinturato full wet compound. Jenson Button was once again the first driver on track, leading out his team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Nico Hulkenberg got a taste of how tricky the conditions had become, as the Force India driver aquaplaned on standing water through turn 5. Luckily the local hero was able to continue, after a lengthy excursion through the grass and gravel.

As Jenson Button set the initial pace with a 01:46.922, the times quickly began to tumble as the rain gradually eased. Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher and then Fernando Alonso went fastest, before Sebastian Vettel stormed to the top with a 01:44.605. Initially it was expected the drivers would be able to switch back to the intermediate tyres before the end of Q3, however the standing water and intensity of the rain made this impossible.

Lewis Hamilton returned to the top as the drivers continued to circulate out on the perilously wet track. Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel then returned to the top also, momentarily creating an all-German front row. However, this fairytale was not to be, as Fernando Alonso quickly got to grips with the wet conditions and stormed to the top with a 01:40.904, which he bettered as the checkered flag fell with a 01:40.621.

With tomorrow’s race forecast to be run in much drier conditions, Fernando Alonso will be striving to continue his reign atop the Drivers’ Championship. However, with German legends Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher close behind the Spaniard, the German Grand Prix is all set for a dramatic 67 laps.

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