Young German driver Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver in Formula 1 history to secure a pole position after finishing on top in a wet qualifying session for the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.
The Scuderia Toro Rosso driver set his time early in Q3, and looked increasingly safe as the rain steadily became heavier.
In the end his 1:37.555 was enough to keep him clear of second-placed Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren-Mercedes, while a stunning all-or-nothing lap from Mark Webber, of Red Bull-Renault, got the Australian up to 3rd place on his final run, edging out Sébastien Bourdais, Vettel's teammate.
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton had a dreadful day and now faces the task of trying to salvage a result from 15th on the grid. His problems began with a gamble on intermediates early in Q2. It never looked like paying off, but even though the Briton replaced them with full wets, he appeared distinctly uncomfortable with the conditions throughout the entire session and never threatened the top order.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen missed the cut-off and will start from 14th, and BMW's Robert Kubica could manage no better than 11th.
Starting grid
1. row
Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso STR3-Ferrari) - 1'37"555
Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren MP4/23-Mercedes) - 1'37"631
2. row
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB3-Renault) - 1'38"117
Sebastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso STR3-Ferrari) - 1'38"445
3. row
Nico Rosberg (Williams FW30-Toyota) - 1'38"767
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2008) - 1'38"894
4. row
Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF108) - 1'39"152
Fernando Alonso (Renault R28) - 1'39"751
5. row
Timo Glock (Toyota TF108) - 1'39"787
Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber F1.08) - 1'39"906
6. row
Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber F1.08) - 1'36"697
Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India VJM01-Ferrari) - 1'36"698
7. row
David Coulthard (Red Bull RB3-Renault) - 1'37"284
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F2008) - 1'37"522
8. row
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/23-Mercedes) - 1'39"265
Rubens Barrichello (Honda RA108) - 1'36"510
9. row
Nelson Piquet (Renault R28) - 1'36"630
Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW30-Toyota) - 1'36"653
10. row
Jenson Button (Honda RA108) - 1'37"006
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM01-Ferrari) - 1'37"417
Timing unofficial
The Scuderia Toro Rosso driver set his time early in Q3, and looked increasingly safe as the rain steadily became heavier.
In the end his 1:37.555 was enough to keep him clear of second-placed Heikki Kovalainen of McLaren-Mercedes, while a stunning all-or-nothing lap from Mark Webber, of Red Bull-Renault, got the Australian up to 3rd place on his final run, edging out Sébastien Bourdais, Vettel's teammate.
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton had a dreadful day and now faces the task of trying to salvage a result from 15th on the grid. His problems began with a gamble on intermediates early in Q2. It never looked like paying off, but even though the Briton replaced them with full wets, he appeared distinctly uncomfortable with the conditions throughout the entire session and never threatened the top order.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen missed the cut-off and will start from 14th, and BMW's Robert Kubica could manage no better than 11th.
Starting grid
1. row
Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso STR3-Ferrari) - 1'37"555
Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren MP4/23-Mercedes) - 1'37"631
2. row
Mark Webber (Red Bull RB3-Renault) - 1'38"117
Sebastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso STR3-Ferrari) - 1'38"445
3. row
Nico Rosberg (Williams FW30-Toyota) - 1'38"767
Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2008) - 1'38"894
4. row
Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF108) - 1'39"152
Fernando Alonso (Renault R28) - 1'39"751
5. row
Timo Glock (Toyota TF108) - 1'39"787
Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber F1.08) - 1'39"906
6. row
Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber F1.08) - 1'36"697
Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India VJM01-Ferrari) - 1'36"698
7. row
David Coulthard (Red Bull RB3-Renault) - 1'37"284
Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F2008) - 1'37"522
8. row
Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/23-Mercedes) - 1'39"265
Rubens Barrichello (Honda RA108) - 1'36"510
9. row
Nelson Piquet (Renault R28) - 1'36"630
Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW30-Toyota) - 1'36"653
10. row
Jenson Button (Honda RA108) - 1'37"006
Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM01-Ferrari) - 1'37"417
Timing unofficial