Hello and welcome to qualifying for the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim.

Hope you enjoyed that - we'll be back for the Grand Prix on Sunday which is due to begin at 13:00 UK time. See you then.

Top 10: Alonso, Vettel, Webber, Schumacher, Hulkenberg, Maldonado, Button, Hamilton, Di Resta, Raikkonen (Webber will lose five places for a grid penalty)

Hamilton had to abandon his last lap, and that leaves him stranded in eighth - not ideal from the McLaren man. Hulkenberg snatched fifth at the death - great result for the German at his home race.

1:40.621! ALONSO IS ON POLE!

Webber up to second! Vettel leapfrogs him - but it means that Alonso is set for pole!

Button through to 6th - Schumacher only 4th!

Button appears to have backed off - he'll improve, but it's not going to worry Alonso.

Alonso will squeeze through for one last lap - and HE'S TOP ALREADY - 1:40.9!

WEBBER TOP! 1:41.6 - that's a marker!

Schumacher has backed off from this lap, looking for a little room for this final effort. Alonso the quickest man on track at the moment through the first sector.

Most drivers should get one, maybe two more laps in - they'll know the breaking points a little better, the racing line will be drying out, this is far from over.

Schumacher 1:42.4! Great lap! But Vettel beats it by four-tenths!

Schumacher on the charge! Seven-tenths clear at sector two split! Hamilton improves to a 1:44.1 which puts him top... for now.

Every driver on the track - no time to switch to intermediates. Everything to play for.

Di Resta slots in third! That's a good effort from the Force Indias - can they sustain it?

Now... Button shaves a second off his previous best to go fourth - the times are going to drop....

Schumacher nips ahead of Hamilton before Alonso and Vettel rip past them both with times in the 1:44s! Hulkenberg up to third.

1:46.9 from Button - immediately eclipsed by a 1:46.6 from Hamilton. Maladonado and Raikkonen behind.

Could be an interesting session here - could we see drivers go out late on intermediates? Would be very brave. For now we're seeing some laps put down on wets, and the conditions will keep improving.

Hulkenberg off at turn six! Nobody said this would be easy - but the good news is that the RAIN HAS STOPPED.