Alonso grabs pole in Hockenheim rain

Championship leader Fernando Alonso mastered the wet conditions at Hockenheim to grab pole position for tomorrow’s German Grand Prix.

After taking top spot on the grid a fortnight ago in the rain at Silverstone, Alonso has now put his Ferrari on pole in back-to-back races, and for the 22nd time in his Formula One career.

The Spaniard was comfortably quicker by half a second than local hero Sebastian Vettel, born just 28 miles away in Heppenheim.

The reigning world champion was forced to settle for second, with Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber third, although the Australian has to serve a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.