Rosberg claims pole for British GP, Vettel second

Formula One world championship leader Nico Rosberg claimed pole position in wet Saturday qualifying for the British Grand Prix, with reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel second.

German Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG GP (R) and British Formula One driver Jenson Button of McLaren Mercedes (L) celebrate after qualifying session of the British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone race track, Northamptonshire, Britain, 05 July 2014. Nico Rosberg won pole position while Jenson Button placed second. Photo by EPA/VALDRIN XHEMAJ
German Formula One driver Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG GP (R) and British Formula One driver Jenson Button of McLaren Mercedes (L) celebrate after qualifying session of the British Formula One Grand Prix at Silverstone race track, Northamptonshire, Britain, 05 July 2014. Nico Rosberg won pole position while Jenson Button placed second. Photo by EPA/VALDRIN XHEMAJ

Mercedes driver Rosberg set the best of 1 minute 35.766 seconds in final qualifying around the 5.891-kilometre Silverstone circuit, which is hosting the Grand Prix for the 50th time on Sunday.

It gave the German driver, who won at Silverstone in 2013, the eighth pole position of his career as he finished 1.620 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Vettel.

"The tyres were still drying out so we lost time on the out lap. We sat in the garage and eventually came to the conclusion that we might as well go out and have a look," said Rosberg

"Then it seemed like it was worth it because the last part of the lap was very dry. It was a great team effort."

Vettel is currently fifth in the drivers' standings, 105 points behind Rosberg, and qualifying second represents a boost for both Red Bull and himself.

"I think England is the only country where you get these sort of conditions but it worked out and it's very positive for us to start from the front row tomorrow," he said.

Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg's team-mate and closest pursuer in the title race, finished a disappointing sixth having pitted on his last lap, lacking confidence a better time was possible. There was better local news as Britain's Jenson Button took third in his McLaren.

"It's only third but for us after the last 18 months, we had no chance of getting this result. It's nice to qualify so well in front of the home crowd," said Button, world champion in 2009.

Early Saturday, the final practice took place on a soaking track. Several cars slipped off the course and various drivers did not post times, seeing little point in taking a risk on the treacherous circuit.

In qualifying the track slowly began to dry out and periodic spells free of rain meant it was important to make the most of what chances there was to set a quick time in qualifying.

The conditions claimed notable victims as both Williams drivers (Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa) and both Ferraris (Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso), misjudged the situation and failed to survive first qualifying.

Nico Huelkenberg (Force India) and Kevin Magnussen (McLaren) were fourth and fifth ahead of Hamilton, who must attempt to catch Rosberg in Sunday's race to prevent his dream of a second world title fading further.

Sergio Perez (Force India), Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) and Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) completed the top 10 on the grid.