The German Grand Prix - Qualifying Highlights Formula 1

Grand Prix.. It is my home where lots of things started. The flags

are waving to greet home their idol and hero. That was a beautiful

moment, because a German driver, wins a home race, an amazing

sensation. Excited. So many people, lots of people cheering for us,

knowing the Grandstand is sold out. Michael Schumacher wins the German

Grand Prix for Ferrari. Certainly proud that partly I am a bit

responsible for the nice stories we are going through. Sebastian Vettel

you are the World Champion, you the man. I have seen him growing up. It

makes me proud. Who knows what happens next? I want to be in the

middle of that podium I might be possible this year. There is no

mistaking we are in Schumacher territory. We are in Vettel

territory too. Two driver, two rivals and nine World Championships

between them. David Coulthard joins me, how much does the legacy of

motor sport owe to Michael Schumacher? A great deal. Seven

World Championship, 1 victories and he is till there, aiming for that

top spot in the second career in Formula One. Sebastian Vettel came

here as a young man to watch Michael race so he has inspired a

generation. Most of these drives never imagined they would get the

chance to race and beat him in some instances. That is right. You could

argue whether he is as strong this time round as the first time, but

nonetheless it is a great opportunity for these young drivers

to say I raced against the most successful driver in the history of

the sport. You have had a good record in Germany. Pole positions

and you race from the German Touring Car Championship. What is

it like to be out in front of the fans. They are very passionate.

Verging on bizarre with some of the get ups and outfits and the way

they celebrate and embrace the weekend. A lot of beer is drank!

They are in the Grandstands and they support motor sport here.

There is a lot of similarities to Silverstone maybe not so much beer.

They They couple out in fost and their focus is on Sebastian Vettel,

he sits third in the Championship he has Fernando Alonso and Mark

Webber in front of him. Lewis Hamilton is fourth. Jenson Button

only managed seven in the last six race, that is reflected in the

constructors championship. Red Bull has a commanding lead from Ferrari,

and interestingly, Lotus are above McLaren, despite not having won

race this season. David, if Sebastian Vettel wins this race, it

still won't give him the lead of the Championship. He is not going

to enjoy being that far off. He is not what he was used to last year,

this stage of the year he was guaranteed to win the Championship,

but there is still more than 275 points available, as we speak, so

much more than the leader of the World Champion has on the board, so

a hell of a long way to go. What about McLaren, they have had more

podiums than anybody else and they are sitting fourth. Even Lotus are

ahead of them and they haven't won a race. I wouldn't be surprised if

they are able to achieve that soon. They stkpwraet pace, McLaren will

be disappointed they are slipping, because as Eddie will remind us,

that is where the money is for the team, the glory is where with the

driver's Championship but it is important to win the constructors.

We have had seven different winner, one was surprising. Pastor

Maldonado has prove head is quick and controversial. He has been

speaking to Tom. Pastor Maldonado is coming through the final turn,

to make history, Pastor Maldonado wins in Spain. I remember before

the victory, no-one was here. is Maldonado. After the victory

everyone is looking for me, everyone is here. There is

Maldonado. This year I crash with Lewis, and everyone is looking for

that. At that moment I was three seconds quicker than him, fighting

for the podium he was in brig trouble with the tyres. I don't

know why. I didn't expect him to put me out of the track. I didn't

ex naect from himment. Next time, if I will be in the same position,

I will do the same. Do you get frustrated that drivers are calling

you the dangerous one now. He is a driver that doesn't respect other

drivers. Perez and Maldonado contact. I never had have in the

past this kind of problems, even with embracing and fighting a

Championship, I won the Championship, he was second,

everything was clear. No problem. Have the drivers spoken about it,

are they concerned about Pastor Maldonado. Yes everyone has

concerns about him. This year he is talking a lot.. These guys will

never learn unless they do something. He is a very dangerous

driver and it can hurt someone. you don't want anything dangerous,

you go back home, and stay there. am disappointed. He has used his

car as a weapon. Here you learn every day. You need to learn from

the mistake, and try to improve for the future. If we take a look at

how Pastor Maldonado's season has gone, it is all-or-nothing for the

Venezuelan, it was all in Barcelona when he got that victory but since

then it has been nothing, not a single point since then, he says he

is not ready to change his driving style. Should he be? He is fast and

deliver, he is a team leader at William, it is his racing style he

needs to question. Irrespective of what he thinks, it is down to the

stewards, they have more data available. They is decided to give

him penalties and reprimand, you can't ignore the referee or you

will get a red card. Sergio Perez had a lot of anger but they did

have previous from practise -- practise in Monaco, how much buzz

of that he was voicing? There might be an element of that, that is life.

Get over it, you move on and deal with the next incident. You know,

various points ev driver will have that frustration with one person,

last year it was Massa and Hamilton, and again, if in doubt, refer to

what the stewards decide and take action from there. Do you believe

other drivers are concerned and think Pastor Maldonado is

dangerous? I don't think they think he is dangerous, I think they

probably think he is very forceful, and you know he won't give an inch.

But Michael was like that in his first career, you raced with that

in mind, so, you know, dangerous I think is a bit of a strong word. I

was disappointed in Monaco where he drove off the racing line, he said

he didn't but he absolutely did, because you can see an analysis and

cut in front of another car, that is a deliberate accuse act and that

should not be allowed. If it happened in norm -- normal racing

that is going to be the case. Pastor Maldonado versus the rest of

the grid is just one headline making the news this weekend. Here

is Ben with the round up of the rest. Having won his second Grand

Prix of the season, Mark Webber wasted little time in announcing he

will stay with Red Bull for another year despite having held talks with

Ferrari, what inspired him to stay. Continuity has been important for

the whole situation, I enjoy working with the guys here,

infrastructure is massive, in relation to what it was, Adrian has

a big influence on how the company runs and how the car perform,

Christian pulling everything together and keeping everyone

motivated, so a lot of, a lot more heads there, and a lot more money

as well, to get the job done. Felipe Massa's position may no

longer be under threat but he is aware there are plenty other

drivers chasing his seat. It's a big team. It's a team I would say

most of the drivers would love to drive for Ferrari, you know, so,

nothing is really a problem for me, it doesn't do anything for me, just

the result is what is really important for me. There is no news

on Hamilton's plans but it sounds like he wants to sort out his

contract before the end of the season. We are at the half way

point now, getting it done soon would be nice so I can focus on

trying to win the World Championship because that is the

most important thing.'S Driver whose future in F is undecided.

Muem might be a seven times World Champion but as he proved in Friday,

even the best can be distracted. was on the radio, I was doing

things on the steering wheel, and just not focused properly and

touched the white line. McLaren had a disappointing British Grand Prix

finishing eighth and tenth but Jenson Button has been in this

position before and understands the challenge. The only thing you do

about improving that is to add bits to the cars and that is what we

have here, you know, we have a good update here, mechanically and

aerodynamically, you never know until you drive it. Lots of teams

and drives including Jenson Button and McLaren are relying on the

updates. Keeping across all things technical is Gary Anderson. What

can you tell us about who has brought what? McLaren arrived

with80% of new body surfaces top car, that is the major part of the

car they have changed since their poor result, I think you could call

nit Silverstone, this includes new front brake, a lot more heat going

into the front tyres to warm then up in qualifying. More important

the side pots. The radiator input is more sculptured. So, much more

airflow coming from the front of the car, down through the side of

the car. You can see that runs into a nice coke bottle section as we

call it. Just before the Vodafone there, the airflow, you can see it

comes from the front of the car, down through this duct under a more

exaggerated exhaust pipe bulge. This is to help the diffuser. This

is where the air goes down, it makes a diffuser work more

consistently. It is important for is a saving the rear tyres so a lot

of developments, a rough couple of days here with the weather, and

this morn's session Hamilton ended up second to Fernando Alonso, and

Jenson Button was back in 24th place, but he has hit most of his

time rung on high fuel, but at the end of the day we have to see what

happens in qualifying. Gary, thank you. We will find out shortly.

David is going to the commentary box, because it is time for

qualifying for the German Grand underway and it is the two Force

Indias that take to the track fist, Marussia is out as is Senna,

qualifying under a cloudy sky but for the moment a dry track. That is

perhaps why we are seeing a few more going out straight away. Gary,

leerically they want to get in lapse quickly here what can we look

forward to in this first part? yes you have to get out, the rain

could come any time, when it does it is heavy. You can't run that

risk, you have to get out there. Most of the cars at the moment

going out on the while wall tyre, the medium tyre, it is good for

three or four laps, they will get the temperatures up to working, the

best possible way, and then look a and see what happens. I think you

will be looking at a high 16.8. That is going to be a quick lap.

first cars are out there, fans getting a chance to see the cars in

action in anger, for qualifying. Hulkenberg then in the Force India

is the first one to take to the track and see what he can can do,

building up that speed. The out-lap crucial to getting the tyre

temperature up. Started his car racing here at Hockenheim and raced

here for Williams in 2010. Qualified tenth on that occasion

that was a good effort. David, talk us round what he has to achieve

here. He has gone through turn one, kept it tidy, there is a temptation

to carry a bit too much speed there and you end up running wide on the

artificial grass. Ly the two and three, three is a poergs, and then

down the longest strait. As you can see it starts with a large curve,

up to about 200mph, with a DRS open. Tricky braking into this tight

hairpin. Classic hairpin. This will be a scene of overtakes tomorrow,

then through the kink at turn seven. Flat out, down into the mers

disarena at turn eight. Tricky one this, because as you exit you have

to pull the car back to the left hand side and immediately into the

130mph apex turn ten, then this is where I think it gets interesting,

this is where you meet the history of Hockenheim. You come into the

old stadium. The track surface change, narrower than any other

part of the track. Then he has traffic ahead of him. The Toro

Rosso tries to get out of the way. flying lap Sunday's hard tyres.

Let's see where his team mate is, di Resta. The let's see what

Sebastian Vettel has been doing. I think we will see that a throughout

qualifying, run into deeper. Yes, he baled out of the braking very

early to avoid the flat spotting of the tyres. Nico Rosberg coming to

the end of his opening lap. Maldonado has gone slightly quicker,

so we expect at these times to his -- drop significantly as the

drivers find where they racetrack is. There was a heavy downpour at

the free practice which will have washed away a lot of the rubber.

Nico Rosberg lowers the time even further. We are in the air these

stages of Q1, where we will do so because from the hole qualifying

sequence -- in the early stages. Michael Schumacher is second

fastest, but Jenson Button has just gone quickest, 1: 16. Second in the

McLaren. And there Fernando Alonso goes fastest. On board with Red

Bull. Coming through turn tenor, the entry to the old stadium. The

apex is taken at just under 180 mph, a little bit of artificial grass

and using the apex to straighten the car as much as com port --

possible. Confidence as his DRS was open. And a double right-hander to

end the lap. Only good enough for fifth that the moment. 16.6, he is

in the mix. Bruno Senna going across the line in seventh, that is

a better performers. Kobayashi has just gone second, a good lap in the

Sauber from Kamui Kobayashi. You are on board with Mark Webber, the

win at Silverstone last time out. - - the winner. I the 10th at the

moment. And Lewis Hamilton, another faster lap, a 1: 16.2. As we were

looking on board at Mark Webber, I was reading his dashboard and it

was saying plus half a second. Looking at the time in screen in

the commentary box, it was going green, green, which says it is in

his best sectors. But it means he has left his morning's Tine as a

lap delta, he did a 16.4. He has only done a 16.9. So he likes to

keep a reference from his best lap in the morning session to give

feedback on where he is. So the early stages are completed. Romain

Grosjean is why it. He is one of three drivers who have a five paste

gear block that fireplace gearbox penalty. Nico Rosberg is one of

them and at the third, significantly, his Mark Webber.

They have had to change gearbox before a gearbox has run five

consecutive events and under Formula One rules, you have an

automatic penalty if it doesn't last five. Kimi Raikkonen and Jean-

Eric Vergne. Jean-Eric Vergne is ninth in the Toro Rosso. Kimi

Raikkonen RNLI test -- Lotus, and he goes fastest, that is a beady

lead in terms of time. Kimi Raikkonen, 1: 15.6. Mrs Timo Glock.

He comes across the line in the Marussia -- this is Timo Glock. At

the moment, he is still in the drop zone. Looking at the information we

have here, it is suggesting he is on the prime tyre, which he is

indeed, that is a pretty impressive lap. Gary, you are down at the

Lotus pits, did you see which tyres he was on? Raikkonen went out on

the medium tyre, it was a very good lap. We have just seen Webber going

out on this soft tyres. You think we will see Lewis Hamilton champion

back in the car? We have seen people going out... He may have to

think about it, but at 16.2, he will be fine. There are cars that

cannot do that. I think he is fine at 16.2. I think they cut off will

be around 16.8. And now we are on board with Sergio Perez. Kobayashi

is in sixth place, but Sergio Perez is trying to make his way up that

order. It is a very unusual driving style with the steering wheel, well

I, won't I? It is like he is going around for 50 pence piece. He has

gone second. Unusual but fast. the Saubers are looking competitive.

Mark Webber is on track and I gather that Sebastian Vettel is

also on the soft tyre. It is surprising to me, the Red Bull

which has been so rapid that recent events is definitely having to go

for the softer tyre, whereas the McLaren looks safe and secure on

Bahadur tyre. -- the harder tyre. bit of traffic won't have helped

the cause of Mark Webber, but he is not looking that comfortable. It

could be to do with track temperature. With 1.5 minutes to go,

he will have to... He runs wide on the exit of turn one. The director

thinking we should see Ed out-lap of Michael Schumacher rather than

the heart lap of Mark Webber. Mercedes are going well. Rosberg

has gone well on the hard tyres as well. The Mercedes does seem to be

working well at Hockenheim. Track temperature is 24 degrees, air

temperature 17. So unusually cool for the circuit, it has to be said.

As we have seen frequently this year, track and tired temperature

windows are operating differently from T inter-team -- tyre

temperature. The they have to watch out for any rain as well. TEAM

RADIO: We need this next lap. pressure, then. He is a man who was

born to deal with pressure, but this is this -- this is it, one

flying lap on the hard tyres. His team-mate Rosberg has delivered a

comfortable time to take him through and progress to the next

session. Bruno Senna is the one under threat from Michael, but he

is on a good lap here. Let's see where it put 7, tenth, he is now

safe and that puts Jean-Eric Vergne in danger territory. That is

probably more to be expected. Let's see how Michael is getting on.

Webber has improved, got up to 12. Sebastian Vettel is up to tenth

place. Both of the Ferraris are look insecure. Let's see if Michael

Schumacher has done enough? 17th, he has just snuck been there. He

has. -- pushed out Jean-Eric Vergne by a marginal fraction. He will not

make it through to Q2, the young Frenchman will be an strapping

himself and taking himself out of the car and join the rest of those

who do not make it through. Jean- Eric Vergne is dead, so are the

Caterhams, as are their Marussias - - Jean-Eric Vergne is out. Kimi

Raikkonen ends up with the fastest time. Sergio Perez will be a

surprise to some people. It was on the softer tyres. Kimi Raikkonen's

time was on the hard tyres. Very interesting to see the difference

in performance. If it is all to do with the temperatures you are able

to generate within the surface of the tyre. So one is called soft,

one is called medium, but frankly, we should see the performance of

more often come from the option tyre but you cannot always get it

switched on. That is an interesting mix, with the first and the third

fastest tyre -- times coming from a hard tyres. He only just needed to

make it through to Q2, but that was incredibly close. A lot of German

fans holding their breath as Michael went for the line. Just to

see you are out so soon, but I don't see us -- expect you were

expecting any less? No, I didn't think we would get through to Q2.

We have struggled all week for some reason with the car, completed the

opposite to Silverstone and now, sadly, from the first lap, it has

struggled with stability and it is very difficult. I cannot do it 100%

every time to get a lap together. A very difficult to understand but we

have to get behind it and see what we can do overnight and see what we

can achieve in the race tomorrow. What do you think you can achieve?

I suppose it is weather dependent. I know you have family and friends

here and you want to put on a good show for everyone you have got here.

Yes, but we know our possibilities at the moment and my family knows

that as well and they don't expect very much. As a team, we know where

we are, but if something happens, we have to be there and we have to

finish the race. That is the only thing we can do. But in general, I

hope it is a good race for us tomorrow. To see the chequered

flag? That is the target, definitely. Thank you, let's head

getting under way but the weather is changing. Gary, what is it like

in the pit lane? It is frantic, everybody is trying to get tyres on

the car. Changing to the intermediate tyres. It is too wet

for a dry weather tyre. The intermediate will be the call of

the day, and they have to get out before the rain gets too heavy.

Seven minutes is the gap between the two sessions and suddenly we

are run to completely different track conditions. And we are more

than 30 seconds into the session and Jenson Button, the first car

out, isn't even down at the hairpin. I am amazed there wasn't a queue of

cars at the end of the pit lane, because as the rain comes down, the

first lap could be your best ever lap and you have no way of knowing

if it will ease up towards the end of the session. So the problem that

McLaren have had us with this green intermediate tyre and. The marshals

are taking cover under the umbrella. A slippery surface flag. It is

getting these tyres to work and McLaren and Jenson were working

hard on this on Friday to get them to switch on. With the internet

tyre, -- intermediate tyre, you have a very thin cover, so to

actually get movement in the tyre to generate heat is very difficult.

The wet Tyacke has a much wider and deeper groove, -- the wet tyre.

That movement within the group is what generates the heat. And now a

whole queue of cars or trying to do the same thing. TEAM RADIO: 2 laps,

maybe three, but these are the ones that will count, it will only get

wetter. One lap out of the three and you will be fine.

confirmation of what you were talking about, they have got to

find a better of clear air. A lookout slippery it is, Jenson is

on what is called the long straight -- and look how the slippery it is.

They knew I into a heavy braking area. -- then you worry into a

heavy braking area. Jenson Button was struggling for traction well

after turn four. It shows how difficult it is in these conditions

to switch on the tyres. Early on the brakes into 108. Look how

slippery it is. It is like ice, I was watching it yesterday in free

practice and the cars looked incredibly slow through that

section. Behind him is Maldonado in the Williams, he was another one

who was fairly early to get out on circuit. Ricciardo and Hulkenberg

were reasonably early. See how deep he goes, trying to skirt the edge.

They are trying to keep off the rubber that has been laid down in

the first part of the dry session, which becomes slick when you put

rain on top of it. You just have to be so gentle. A little bit wider

and then he cut back to get the car as straight as possible. It looks

like Maldonado might have caught you say, just about gathering it

together, Raikkonen and he comes round to try and complete a lap. So

Ricciardo has gone third fastest. Let us see what Kimi does, he goes

third but he is behind Maldonado and Button. You would think if

anyone can handle these tricky conditions it would be Raikkonen.

Every car is different. Vettel is quicker than Maldonado was able to

do, so let us keep an eye. Webber is down on that. It's a question of

how much confidence you have and how brave you are, how much you are

prepared to risk. Alonso has gone second. This is an onboard replay.

Up ahead, Massa made a big mistake, look at how he got block and Alonso

was still second quickest on that lap. So a big blow to Ferrari there,

really, Vettel is fastest and Alonso was only 21 thousands of a

second slower. Michael goes quickest. Schumacher goes fastest.

That was a good lap, 38.0 from Michael Schumacher. It was indeed.

Tidy lap run wide. Big amount of oversteer but gathered it up. I

said Vettel had gone 1.4 seconds quicker than the previous fastest,

it was only 0.4 of a second. That mean nothing as they get into the

last ten minutes of this session. It is all about who can make the

top ten. Gary, you have been keeping an eye on where the cars

are on track, did Michael manage to get a clear lap in there Yes he

outlasted the bunch. You saw the rest of them tripping over each oh

so it's a clever thing to do, just make sure you get that lap in, with

nobody in front of you. So the experience counting perhaps for

Michael Schumacher now, look at the drop zone, Grosjean, rick doe,

Senna, Perez, Rosberg and Massa, Hamilton has government gone

quicker than Michael Schumacher, so he should be safe and Massa

improved but he is ento 11th. It is not nouf get into the top ten. We

have nine minutes to go and the conditions so much different to how

they were earlier. Rosberg unable to improve, down in 17th place. As

the rain comes down are any of the guys going to be able to go quicker.

Grosjean, Perez and Senna and the other Kobayashi and Rosberg has we

have seen, Gary, the times we have seeing, that fastest time, 1.37

from Hamilton, it is about the cross over time between the

intermediate and the wet. We saw that yesterday. Yes, it is about 20

seconds so these conditions at the moment are difficult for

intermediates and probably just about able do the same lap time on

the wets. Can Rosberg find that bit of time? I I know he will be trying.

The weather forecast for tomorrow is good, so he will push the tyres

to the limit. Perez, lots of corrective lot being applied. A bit

of jigling round, did he, yes he went through the gravel track and

back out the other side again. Lucky do that. Well held. It dips

into that Sachss curve, the camber of the corner, once you get up high

and they have that green painted concrete before the gravel, you

don't stand a chance in his conditions. Rosberg, we mentioned

earlier he has a five grid penalty for his gearbox change, but

nonetheless, he will be wanting to improve on his current 17th place

this is him on the warm up lap. He has got Maldonado, just ahead of

him. He will be starting to build the speed now. So let us watch him

through the last corner and it is the sector times that will tell us

the story, gets good traction, a plume of spray coming off the back

of the Mercedes. Michael Schumacher is safe in second, at the moment,

he is heading for the final part of qualifying, but what can Rosberg do

on home territory himself? Never had a great deal of luck in the

German Grand Prix, in terms of results, you see how slippery it is

out there and the first sector point and he is 1.1 seconds down.

Not on the fastest but on tenth position, so it is going to be very

very difficult for him to break into that top ten. It is indeed.

You would have thought that the full wet, not only be able to move

the water a bit, it gives you more confidence to lean on the rear of

the car, the intermediates tend to be more snapy like stepping on ie,

it gets away with you, but the wet is more progressive. There is more

rubber there, you feel that as you drive the car. Interesting that

Michael has gone back on wets having done a good lap on the

intermediate, is he gathering information or what? Yes we were

hear tong team radio he was going out in the full wet for protection,

to make sure that suddenly things don't change but as the rain

continues to fall, it is not looking like anyone is going to go

much faster. So, round goes Rosberg. Michael Schumacher ekeeping out of

the way. Perhapss he's is preparing for Q3. It looks as though the

extreme wet is going to be the one to be used, so he gets some useful

experience but Rosberg's time. It won't be enough, to drag him

through. It is too risky. Rosberg has discovered it is just

that wet, four seconds down on what he needed to achieve to get into

the top ten. No chance of any of these guys to possibly improve

their time. All they are doing at this stage is getting experience of

the track on the full wet tyres. Those that have made it into the

top ten they can practise for the final part of qualifying. If you

are practising you don't want to throw the car off the road.

lines, they tend to have them painted with a grip paint f there

is such a thing, it has sand in to try to reduce the amount of grip

you lose when you ride out on to it. Look at how slippy it is, losing

the rear axle, it runs wide. That is the staging ground for the drag

stip they have here, other forms of motor sport enjoyed in Hockenheim.

Look that the time, seven seconds down on what we have seen, in fact

running wide, it is just so sliepry out there, so we are looking at big

names going out Felipe Massa, Grosjean, Senna will be out again

you are look at Senna a replay of Bruno Senna, still hasn't been able

to get into a Q3 throughout the 2012 season whereas his team-mate

has managed to do it. He is in sixth. Raikkonen, this was some of

his fun and games. He has made it into the top ten, but Grosjean who

does have a five place gearbox penalty and you are looking at a

replay of Grosjean, he has not made it throughout. He was 15th. That

was on the full wets, that was later on trying to find some grip.

He was adjusting something, probably his brake balance and

didn't react quickly enough and slid wide. We saw that with muem

yesterday, dropped the car on the exit of 12. This narrow part of the

old circuit here, there is no loom for error. Look at, we are watching

Massa, look at rick doe, it doesn't look as if he is going to make it

through to the final part of qualifying but he will start 11th,

he will probably start better because Webber has a grid penalty.

That is a good effort. He will end one a decent grid position. Rosberg

will get his place penalty. That will make a long face for Nico

tomorrow, starting his home Grand Prix, from second last row. Just a

reminder, those that don't make it through to final qualitying line up

in order they drop out. It's a poor day for Felipe Massa once again,

the two Brazilians, Senna and Felipe Massa, both struggling today.

Yes Massa hasn't looked comfortable this weekend. In the end, he's not

going to make it through the next part of qualifying. All you ever do

is compare to the team-mate. Fernando Alonso sitting in fourth.

So the chequered flag is out on the second part of qualifying and we

now have the seven that are not going to be in the top ten, they

are Ricciardo, Perez, his team-mate Kobayashi, nor is Massa, Grosjean,

Senna, and Rosberg.. O understand we are on to Charlie, speaking to

Charlie about him. An unhappy Raikkonen, talking about Perez, the

car's pushed back in and it is game over for Rosberg, he is one of

those that has not made it through. 17th. That is where he will be on

the grid, maybe a couple for pentys for others but it is a

disappointing day. His team-mate Michael Schumacher has made it

through. Grosjean is out as well so we have had real surprises in that

part of qualifying. I wonder if there aren't a few more stories

ability drivers being blocked. Grosjean marching up the pit lane,

almost as if he is going to have a word with somebody. Massa back into

the pits. Let us confirm those out. Daniel, you have proved this season

you are handy in the rain. Yeah, it's, it's funny, because I didn't

do much wet weather driving back in the day, but it is nice, nice to

have a bit of speed in the wet, so it is a shame we missed out on Q3.

When it is that close you hope for a bit more, but 11th is good. We

improved where we with, it is a good starting position for tomorrow.

We haven't been there far out. Webber, he has a five place grid

penalty. I could get my nose in. Tenth is on the dirty side. 11 is

on the clean, so it is probably much of a muchness, and with my

stats a bit inconsistent it is probably not the biggest variable I

am confident I will have a good one tomorrow. Let us rejoin the top ten

shoot out. The top ten shoot out begins, cars making their way to

the end of the pit lane, the two McLarens are first out on track, it

is a very wet circuit thrai. On the extreme wets and Button, Hamilton

and Maldonado are taking to the track to see if they can establish

a benchmark time. Gary, conditions for you in the pit lane, somehow

that rain? The rain has stopped here in the pit lane so the track

is going to be getting better, so it is going to backbench an

intermediate weather in two or three laps of the session. You have

to make sure you have the intermediates. I don't know I would

be rushing out there with wets on. Let's make the most of this track

position and the visibility. McLaren tried to get out there and

get clear running, as you say, if it gets drier they will have to

play the game here, in terms of when they choose to come in, if it

is fast enough to put the intermediates on I think the reason

they have gone out there earlier, is that Hulkenberg? That is a long

way, is that on to the back straight. I don't recall anywhere

elsewhere there is so much grass. Indeed. What's happened here then?

Oh. That is a very scary moment, and scary place. To lose control,

with aqua plaining and that is a clear message to Charlie Whiting,

that, yes, OK, maybe not be raining but that is the ebg effect of

standing water, that could have been a very nasty incident, one of

the fastest parts of the track. He has rejoined and the session is

still going. Jenson Button is opening up his lap. You sound

remarkably calm about that. If that car had gone left, that could have

been a big accident.. That would have continued for a long way,

think what it does it shows, there is no rain falling at this time,

but the amount of volume of water thing here to surmise and stay on

track. Again, the rain master and he is saying there is a lot of aqua

planing, there already head scratching going on with Charlie

and his team up in race control. Jenson Button first out on to the

track, he is followed by Lewis Hamilton on the extreme wets, and

as the spray gets kicked up. You were saying different parts of the

circuit dry out at different rates. Because of the mix of old and new

circuit. This is the new part of the track at turn eight, nine, see

the aqua planing there as we runs over, you can see the change in

surface. Just struggling, struggling to put the power down as

the tyre fills up with water -- water. It can't dissipate the

amount of standing water that is there. That is an uncomfortable

feeling for a driver. We come into the old part, different track

surface, a bit more abrasive. Because of the camber changes you

get less standing water, apart from down into this section as we come

through 16 and as I mentioned earlier this is a staging point for

where they have the drag strip. So a lot of rubber laid down if you

the Jenson Button. -- let's see. Lewis Hamilton is faster. 1: 46.6.

Presumably, the track is going to get slower, 1: 49.5. Michael

Schumacher has gone fastest. Fernando Alonso immediately

improves that. So as the track begins to dry off, this is going to

be one of those sessions way you want to be the last one across the

line just before the chequered flag. Vettel has gone fastest but we will

see plenty of improvement, I think. This is a replay of Alonso,

breaking off line down into the hairpin and then as he came back

across the rebel line, he lost the rear of the car. Kimi Raikkonen

having something similar as he comes out of turn one. Lewis

Hamilton running wide as well and you do have to watch that. If they

think you have gained an advantage, even if it is wet, they may

disallow at the time. Look at the understeer, fighting it into

oversteer. This is going through turn a seven. They aquaplaning

through the apex of seven rejoined. Manjit can see the difference

between the new circuit and how it holds the standing water and the

old part of the track. He is going quicker on their slap. Lead to see

what this is for Jenson Button. -- let's see what this is the Jenson

Button. He has gone quicker than the last time around. The Red Bull

people have been told they are expecting the last one to be the

quick one. Mark Webber trying to get himself track position by

hanging back. He has got a bit to clear space ahead of him. Mark

Webber now going on to the lap. He usually leads the wet conditions,

he is always faster in the rain. Fernando Alonso has come into the

pits, only four minutes to go. has come back for a brand new set

of extreme wets. Kimi Raikkonen has done the same thing. Inevitably,

you start to lose the sharpness of the block and the ability to cut

through the water and get into the tarmac. Lewis Hamilton showed a

huge amount of wheelspin are coming out of the tape -- hairpin. Gary,

coming in for another set of wet tyres, they are pre- heated and

maybe you can get an advantage that way? Yes, it is good to get back

out there with heat in the tyres, they lose quite a lot of

temperature and as David says, get that sharp corner on the clock

while it is getting drier, it will be that bit quicker. I think it is

going to be Last Man Standing up there today. It is, we will have to

watch that till the very end. Lewis Hamilton. It is tricky to get the

power down. Balancing the steering against the throttle. Just managing

to eke it out on to the straight. He goes fastest. 1: 44.1. I am not

sure it will last for long. We consider purple sectors for

Sebastian Vettel, he is improving. -- we can see. Michael Schumacher

has also improved. As we can see in the back of the shot... Let's see

what the Red Bulls are doing. They are together as they come over the

line. Vettel goes fastest, 1: 42.3. Mark Webber is only a fastest, but

a great lad from Sebastian Vettel. -- Mark Webber is only eight

fastest but a great lap from Sebastian Vettel. Sebastian wets

very close to the back of Mark Webber when they came to finish

that lap -- was very close. Held up potentially by Mark Webber, a but

he found the clear space that he needed to allow Vettel to go faster.

You can see what he thinks a bed, a wave of that hand. Vettel not happy

with his team-mate. Meanwhile, Schumacher on a better lap. TEAM

RADIO: This is a much hotter set of tyres, we can do better. Look how

much the car is twitching around, trying to avoid the puddles.

Michael Schumacher trying to make the most of this new set of tyres

but he is them by four-tenths of a second to Sebastian Vettel's

fastest time. This is where Sebastian Vettel was held up

slightly by Mark Webber, so it is feasible that he can bet that his

time. It looks as though he has backed out of it. He sees the

traffic ahead of him. Our circuit map be showing it as Jenson Button

in front of him. Fernando Alonso set the fastest first sector of

anyone. And the second set up. So Fernando Alonso is looking like he

is going for pole position. Mark Webber is going really fast.

Fernando Alonso, we talked about rain masters. Schumacher was rain

master in his first career, but this guy has been astonishing. He

got pole position in Silverstone in bad conditions. Can he do it in

Hockenheim? The championship leader trying to beat the Red Bulls. He

has done a 1: 40.904. That means he is fast is that the moment. The

chequered flag is out, but there are still cars out on a lap.

Sebastian Vettel has set the fastest first sector. He looks like

he is struggling, you could see the aquaplaning in to turn ten.

Although it is a better middle sector for Jenson Button, his first

sector was slightly down, so it would be enough for pole. Alonso

has done a good first sector, only one-tenth slower than Vettel. It is

all about gaining a bit of traction. Jenson Button through the final

part, virtually, of the lap. Just a bit double right-hander to go. His

middle sector was an improvement, but he is down in eighth place. His

team mate is currently in six. Does this move Jenson Button up the

order? He is there in six. Hamilton is in the pits. Schumacher is in

fourth. Vettel is on a good lap here. Across the line, he is second.

Mark Webber is third. Of Fernando Alonso is still fastest and still

on a reasonable lap. Trying to get a bit more speed out of it in the

closing stages of the session. Maldonado has put in about a map

and gone ahead of them the Clarets into sixth. Jenson Button in

seventh, had not under any aid. Fernando Alonso even faster, just

not up Annan's -- Hamilton in aid. Fernando Alonso even faster, just

to make sure. Mark Webber will start them in a position, he has a

fireplace penalty -- in eight for 22nd career pole. Sebastian Vettel

second, Mark Webber will be pushed back down the grid because of a

gearbox penalty. Michael Schumacher has a qualified his team made for

the first time this year. -- out- qualified. Kimi Raikkonen not able

to do much in the final session at and in tenth place. Romain Grosjean

has a fireplace agreed penalty. As does Nico Rosberg. -- 5 place grid

another eventful qualifying where the weather has dictated what

happened out there and just like Silverstone, Fernando Alonso it

brilliantly. He is a remarkable driver. What started as a very

difficult car in pre-season has developed well and he has taken

full advantage of the ever-changing conditions at Hockenheim. We can

see him running wide, this is actually his fastest lap that we

are looking at the at the moment and we can see he is using the

track and so much more. The white lines are not -- normally there to

define the racetrack and you can't go behind them, but there is no

clear advantage here by going the long way around. We also have

footage of him running wide going through 15 and 16, he runs out on

what is actually a drag strip when Hockenheim is used for other events.

Again, it is more of the case of whether Carl Whant in those

conditions. He must be so happy with the way things are going. This

year, he was talking about how the car had disappointed him and it

looks like it might not be Ferrari's year. They have now had

to a pole positions and are leading the Drivers' Championship. -- two

pole positions. This is a sport of development, it is not just about

what you have at the start of the season. We have seen guys have a

couple of victories and look like they are set up bandit has petered

out. What Ferrari have definitely one is the development award. --

one. In Melbourne, they were second from pole position and now have

they are off the back of double pole positions. What does it say

about Felipe Massa, he went out in Q2? It is troubled times for him.

Let's hear from Fernando Alonso. A Ben Ando, your first pole

position at Hockenheim and their brilliant lap at the end. -- Ben

Ando. Every time you go out in these conditions, it is a new

feeling, a new level but you have to analyse quickly because there is

not meant time -- much time. At the end, we maximised the car and in

wet conditions, it seems quite competitive, so we took their

momentum and tomorrow we will see what happens. We are expecting a

dry race, what is the performance like in the dry? I think the car is

running well also on dry, but we need to see. The car was a bit

quicker than everybody on dry, so I joins us now. We are going to have

to shout very loudly. Just tell us about your qualifying, it is a

shame you take that penalty. Yes, it is not often in Formula One that

we use all three types of tyres in a one-hour session but that was the

case today. And a very competitive session, you have to make sure you

are there at the end, which we were. The back part of Q3 was where the

time was done, but the tyres were not in the best shape at that point,

so ultimately, Fernando Alonso did a brilliant strategy, but it wasn't

completely clear, it wasn't completely obvious, and the start

of Q3 was tricky. David can identify with that, the aquaplaning

and the difficult conditions. I would love to be starting third, at

the penalty is a real pain in the... We will try and pick people of

tomorrow. There was a time when you enter a team made seemed to be

pretty close, Sebastian Sark waving his hand that year. I saw him very

late. -- Sebastien aid starts waving his hand achieve. Obviously,

the spray is very heavy. You are losing visibility. That is what can

happen unfortunately if you have two cars on the same team out at

the same time. Not bad qualifying overall, these conditions meant all

of the tyres were used, but the intermediate and the full wet don't

look like they were coping with the conditions around this track very

well. It looked very slippy compared to other tracks. You are

right. Again, I think what is paying is a big role is the

temperature. That playing a big role. -- playing a bigger role.

There are a lot of teams and drivers that are not confident in

certain conditions engine literally changed the type of tyre, from

extreme to intermediate and all of a sudden, the car feels more

comfortable, or maybe vice versa. They are very tricky, even compared

to the dry, so don't underestimate how tricky it is for teams and

drivers to get on top of the wet and the intermediate. Their keeper

Jim -- joining us. Let's hear from Sebastian Vettel.

At very eventful qualifying session, give us your thoughts. I think it

was pretty difficult for all of us, especially the last bit of

qualifying with a lot of water on the track and aquaplaning, so it

was easy to get it wrong. Fortunately, we got it right, just

a little bit missing at the end. I went to a wide intern six on the

last lap and locked the rear and lost the car -- in turn at six. It

would have been close, it is hard to say whether it would have been

good enough, but we were quite good in those conditions and happy to be

has outqualified Hamilton for the first time this season, let us hear

from him now. What does it tils about the updates you brought here?

I don't think it tells us anything, when you rook at our times in dry-

runing, apart from me being last, the pace is very good. In the wet

conditions we struggled to get the tyres working. I think with the

package, think the guys done a good job, we should be happy with the

improvements we have made there, I think for degradation and outright

pace we have strong, as soon as it started raining we knew we could

struggle. It is impressive we are this far up the grid. Let us look

at the positives. You got the maximum out of the car, are you

happier with your performance? I was happy at Silverstone, we got

superunlucky in qualifying, and yes, we got to sort these issues out

with the temperature, because it is hurting us both here and, yeah, as

soon as it rains we know it is going to be a difficult day in the

office. The positives to take from it is the car is quicker in the dry,

and tomorrow is supposed to be dry, I think we are in for a very good

race. Good luck. The car certainly did look better in the dry, it was

looking like Q1 was going their way, yesterday they were very fast, but

stkpwhrust the rain Jensen mentioned it doesn't work. It is

about getting the tyre switched on. Fernando Alonso's interview, he

said if it is dry McLaren will be a fost. They will try and understand

that in the way we have seen it all year, teams trying to get them

working. You might have seen over Jensen Button's shoulder, Hamilton

was lurking behind. He didn't fancy waiting to speak to us, so

hopefully we will hear from him tomorrow. Tomorrow, it is his 1

hundredth Grand Prix, he would have been hoping for more, and therefore

more tomorrow. It is remarkable to think he has had 100 Grand Prixs at

McLaren have passed so quickly. He would have expected to have more

world titles than the single title he has. I don't think that is

through any failing of his performance, McLaren have been

struggling to keep with the development. It's a crucial time as

we reach mid-season, not only for this World Champion but his future.

They have brought so many upgrade, are they work or was the weather

maybe thwarting that chance? They will have a lot of analysis tool,

they will analyse what was working even in the changing conditions and

whether it correlates with the wind tunnel, and from that, you have to

put your best foot forward and see what the race weekend brings you P

-- you. Hulkenberg joins us now. It said in our graphic fifth which is

where you qualified, the best of the season. You jump forward a

place because Mark Webber has his grid penalty. You must be pleased?

Yes, I am. Especially under these condition, it has been tricky,

difficult to drive and keep the car on the track. Probably even has

seen my moment in Q3 when I went, luckily I was able to continue and

do my job. We have had a couple of wet Saturdays, you seem to do well

in these conditions, even in Brazil when you got that fantastic pole

position, it was a drying track there. Yes, that was much drier,

that was full wet, but, yeah, I have to admit like to drive in the

wet, it is a different channel, you need to be a bit more careful, a

bit more feeling, specially with the gins with so much power. You

need a lot of sensitivity on the throttle pedal. Let us take a look

at the spin. That must have been a scary moment. It was. My heart went

straight down to the bottom area, there is so much water here, you

see I drive straight, aqua planing, there is nothing I could do. I

thought "Please don't touch the wall." Can you explain what is it

like to the people at home. There are certain conditions where the

cars cannot drive. People might think you the best drives in the

world what is the sensation for you? The problem is the gauge of

the tyres is not big enough. With that little amount of standing waer,

a normal car, no problem, for us it is a big problem, you are driving

in a straight line and you ra passengers I was travelling at

260kph and the car did something else that I wanted. There is not

much else I can do. How do you think it will go tomorrow, do you

think you have a good race car? don't think we should be all right.

We won't be as competitive in the dry as in the wet. We are starting

fourth. I will try hard, stretch myself, a lot, or very much, to try

and defend this position. OK, thank you for joining us, let us look at

where they line up P -- up. Fernando Alonso set the pace in

qualifying. Shuem behind and Hulkenberg, his best in a Force

India. Maldonado sixth and Jensen Button and Hamilton followed by di

Resta and Raikkonen. Massa is down in 14th with Grosjean, Senna,

Rosberg and Vergne next. Caim and Petra Kvitova are 19th and 20th

followed by Pic, Glock, de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan. Everybody

is talking about strategy and how it is going to play out. Somebody

who loves talking about strategy is Gary Anderson. Qualifying is about

the right tyres at the right time. Q1 was run on the dry. Q3 wet tyre.

The interesting thing was Fernando Alonso did, he came in half way

through, put on a new set with sharp corners so when the track got

to its best he had the best tyres on there for moving the water, pole

position. Job done for today but tomorrow is about the dry weather

tyre. Now, my strategy analysis shows a two stop strategy is the

best at the moment but the track has been raw, the track will get

better, a one-stop is only six seconds slower, tomorrow we will

see a lot of one-stop strategy, people pushing the tyres to the

limit. Thank you Gary. There is plenty of sport coming up on the

BBC, in fact as soon as we are off air the Third Round of the open

continues. And coverage of the final round starts at 11 clock

tomorrow, again on BBC Two, and BBC HD. Let us not forget about us, we

are back with highlights of the German Grand Prix, 5.30 on BBC Two

and the BBC HD channel. It is shaping up on the an exciting Grand

Prix. Fernando Alonso might be at the frond but we have two Germans

desperate to get on to the podium. Vettel never won his home race

before, Michael Schumacher, he had a strong day. Both very happy to be

that close to the front. Vettel maybe feels he could have had a run

for pole, in the end he will start second. Michael Schumacher won't be

too unhappy with that, he is a man who has won round here before.

said at the top of the programme he would love to be on that middle

step, do you think he can do it? won here four times before, so he

knows this track. He has been looking a lot more likely to

achieve that sort of success this year than the previous couple of

seasons and with the weather changing as we have seen, who knows

what will happen tomorrow. Who does know, it has been an exciting

season, thank you very much for your company. We have got five

Germans on the grid, tens of thousands of them in the