Webber: First Q3 lap was key

The Red Bull driver claimed his fifth pole of the year by lapping in 1m45.778s on his opening flying lap during the final section of qualifying. With the threat of rain - which had already caused significant disruptions to both Q1 and Q2 - returning, the Australian knew he had no time to lose with his run.

"We knew the first lap was going to be pretty important because round here it is so unpredictable," Webber said. "The weather has been unique, even for Spa. It has been so on and off.

"So to have a pretty clean qualifying was very important. The first lap I was happy with, but you never know in this company if it is enough or not. It was nice to be on pole halfway through [Q3] and going into second run, but the weather made it more difficult to improve on our second attempt."

Webber came under pressure in the final minute of the session as McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton set some impressive times in the first and second sectors.

Hamilton, who lay fourth at that point, came up short though and had to settle for second on the grid - 0.085s slower than Webber. The championship leader believes he could have gone even quicker had conditions allowed.

"Lewis did a good lap on second lap, but I think we would still have been quick enough to have a crack here," he added.

The world championship leader stopped short of making any predictions for the race, however, saying that the infamous Spa weather will almost certainly have a part to play.

"It is virtually impossible [to predict the weather]," he said. "The showers that pop up here and there have no real consistency.

"This is a special venue, as we all know, tucked in the forests. Having said that, it wasn't that difficult today in terms of picking the weather, it was more of the times everyone knew they needed to do.

"It's reflected in the grid; in most people being where they should be within reason, and not too much of a mixed up position."