Fernando Alonso edges Mark Webber for pole at Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone

FERNANDO Alonso will start the British grand prix in pole position for after finishing quickest in a rain-hit qualifying session.

Sebastien Vettel

FERNANDO Alonso will start tonight's British grand prix in pole position for Ferrari after finishing quickest in a rain-hit qualifying session.

The Spaniard, who currently leads the drivers standings, will be joined on the first line of the grid by Red Bull's Mark Webber.

It will be Alonso's first start on pole since the 2010 Singapore Grand Prix and the 21st of his career in Formula One.

The double world champion is the only driver to have won more than once this year with victories in Malaysia and in the European Grand Prix at Valencia and in a qualifying session badly disrupted by wet conditions he posted the best time of 1 minute 51.746 seconds.

That was marginally better than Webber who is in second place behind Alonso in the drivers standings, 20 points adrift.

Michael Schumacher took third place in his Mercedes with fellow German and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel beside him on the second row.

Both McLaren drivers struggled with Lewis Hamilton eighth and Jenson Button failing to make it out of the first qualifying session.

Sebastien Vettel