Nuerburg, Germany - Mark Webber claimed his first career pole position on Saturday, in a rain-marred qualifying session for the German Formula One Grand Prix.

The Australian driver for the Red Bull team held off the Brawn GP duo of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button as well as his teammate Sebastian Vettel.

Webber clocked 1 minute 32.230 seconds for the 5.148 kilometres lap on the Nuerburgring as all teams gambled with their tyre choices. Barrichello had 1:32.357, Button 1:32.473 and Vettel 1:32.480 minutes.

Ex champion Fernando Alonso was one of the prominent victims of the weather as he failed to make the final qualifying round and will have to start from 12th place after spinning on a partly wet track in dry-weather tyres.

Button leads the championship with 64 points from eight races ahead of Barrichello (41) and Vettel (39). (dpa)