After 31-race gap,Alonso and Ferrari on pole

Spaniard Fernando Alonso slid and splashed through atrocious conditions to hand Ferrari their first Formula One pole since 2010 in a rain-delayed British Grand Prix qualifying

Spaniard Fernando Alonso slid and splashed through atrocious conditions to hand Ferrari their first Formula One pole since 2010 in a rain-delayed British Grand Prix qualifying on Saturday.

The championship leader,last years winner at Silverstone,was joined on the front row by Red Bulls Australian Mark Webber also his closest rival in the standings after eight of 20 races.

The pole was Ferraris first since Alonso started the Singapore Grand Prix from the top slot on the grid in September 2010,31 races ago.

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It was tricky conditions for everyone. You have to be calm in some difficult moments, said the Spaniard,who leads Webber by 20 points overall,of his 21st career pole.

Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher qualified third fastest for Mercedes with fellow German Sebastian Vettel,the reigning champion,alongside for Red Bull. The top four,separated by just four tenths of a second,are all former British Grand Prix winners. Lewis Hamilton,who is third in the drivers’ standings,qualified in eighth,while McLaren teammate Jenson Button was eliminated in the first qualifying section,and will start 18th.

Heavy rain had earlier forced qualifying to be halted for an hour,with cars slipping and sliding on pools of standing water. Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg despite securing ninth position will start from 14th due to a gear box penalty. Paul di Resta will start the race in 10th position.

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