Two thousandths of a second separated Fernando Alonso from Sebastian Vettel for the pole position in Germany.
The Red Bull driver set the quickest time in 1:13:791 while the Ferrari driver realized 1:13:793.
A further five and sixth tenths behind are the sister Ferrari driven by Felipe Massa and then Silverstone winner Mark Webber, who abandoned his final effort after running wide in turn 1. "My fault," said the Australian.
The other major story from qualifying was the pace of the championship leading McLarens, who went into the session fitted with the blown exhausts. But points leader Lewis Hamilton was outqualified by his teammate Jenson Button, in just fifth place.
"It is clear now we are the third fastest team," rued Lewis Hamilton. And Jenson Button added: "7 tenths behind? Surprising. We've definitely made a step forward with the car here but we don't have the pace, which is quite a worry, really."
Nico Rosberg is nineth in-between of the two Wiiliams of Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg, who edged out his countryman Michael Schumacher on his final lap in Q2, the seven-time world champion missed Q3.
The first session was stopped after Tonio Liuzzi careered his Force India across the track and into the barriers on the main straight. The driver was unharmed but heavily damages are seen on his single-seater.
Starting grid of the grand prix of Germany - Hockenheim - July 24, 2010
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'13"791 - Q3
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F10) - 1'13"793 - Q3
2nd row
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F10) - 1'14"290 - Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'14"347 - Q3
3rd row
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'14"427 - Q3
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'14"566 - Q3
4th row
Robert Kubica (Renault R30) - 1'15"079 - Q3
Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'15"109 - Q3
5th row
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'15"179 - Q3
Nico Hulkenberg (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'15"339 - Q3
6th row
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'15"026 - Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'15"084 - Q2
7th row
Vitaly Petrov (Renault R30) - 1'15"307 - Q2
Pedro De La Rosa (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'15"550 - Q2
8th row
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'15"588 - Q2
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'15"974 - Q2
9th row
Jarno Trulli (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'17"583 - Q1
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'18"300 - Q1
10th row
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'15"467 - Q2*
Timo Glock (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'18"343 - Q1
11th row
Bruno Senna (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'18"592 - Q1
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'18"952 - Q1
12th row
Sakon Yamamoto (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'19"844 - Q1
Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - no time - Q1
Unofficial timing
* 5 positions penalty for gearbox change
The Red Bull driver set the quickest time in 1:13:791 while the Ferrari driver realized 1:13:793.
A further five and sixth tenths behind are the sister Ferrari driven by Felipe Massa and then Silverstone winner Mark Webber, who abandoned his final effort after running wide in turn 1. "My fault," said the Australian.
The other major story from qualifying was the pace of the championship leading McLarens, who went into the session fitted with the blown exhausts. But points leader Lewis Hamilton was outqualified by his teammate Jenson Button, in just fifth place.
"It is clear now we are the third fastest team," rued Lewis Hamilton. And Jenson Button added: "7 tenths behind? Surprising. We've definitely made a step forward with the car here but we don't have the pace, which is quite a worry, really."
Nico Rosberg is nineth in-between of the two Wiiliams of Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg, who edged out his countryman Michael Schumacher on his final lap in Q2, the seven-time world champion missed Q3.
The first session was stopped after Tonio Liuzzi careered his Force India across the track and into the barriers on the main straight. The driver was unharmed but heavily damages are seen on his single-seater.
Starting grid of the grand prix of Germany - Hockenheim - July 24, 2010
1st row
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'13"791 - Q3
Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F10) - 1'13"793 - Q3
2nd row
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F10) - 1'14"290 - Q3
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'14"347 - Q3
3rd row
Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'14"427 - Q3
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'14"566 - Q3
4th row
Robert Kubica (Renault R30) - 1'15"079 - Q3
Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'15"109 - Q3
5th row
Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'15"179 - Q3
Nico Hulkenberg (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'15"339 - Q3
6th row
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'15"026 - Q2
Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'15"084 - Q2
7th row
Vitaly Petrov (Renault R30) - 1'15"307 - Q2
Pedro De La Rosa (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'15"550 - Q2
8th row
Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'15"588 - Q2
Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'15"974 - Q2
9th row
Jarno Trulli (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'17"583 - Q1
Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'18"300 - Q1
10th row
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'15"467 - Q2*
Timo Glock (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'18"343 - Q1
11th row
Bruno Senna (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'18"592 - Q1
Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'18"952 - Q1
12th row
Sakon Yamamoto (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'19"844 - Q1
Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - no time - Q1
Unofficial timing
* 5 positions penalty for gearbox change