2 M Schumacher (Ferrari) 1:30.028

3 Massa (Ferrari) 1:30.407

4 Barrichello (Honda) 1:30.754

5 Raikkonen (McLaren) 1:30.933

6 Button (Honda) 1:30.940

7 Trulli (Toyota) 1:31.419

8 Villeneuve (BMW Sauber) 1:31.542

All times BST

1411: Reigning world champion Fernando Alonso pours on the pace to record the fastest lap of 1:29.819 at the Nurburgring. He takes his first pole positon of the season and the 10th of his career. Schumacher is set to renew his rivalry with the Spaniard as he takes second with 1:30.028 with Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa third.

1406: Schumacher comes in to change the tyres on his Ferrari as he prepares for one final hot lap. Button is also seeking to get a decent spot on the grid and he also hopes new tyres will boost his chances. Raikkonen is struggling to keep his McLaren in line, and he has yet to register a serious time.

1356: The drivers cruise round the Nurburgring to burn off any excess fuel. Michael Schumacher sets the fastest time early on and continues to hurtle round the track at a decent pace. His challengers bide their time.

1350 The final 20-minute session begins at the Nurburgring to determine who will take pole for the European Grand Prix. The drivers will take whatever level of fuel is left after this session into the race on Sunday.

1345 Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella fails to squeeze into the final 10 for the second Grand Prix in a row. Jacques Villeneuve pours on the pace to finish in ninth but Ralf Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Britain's David Coulthard, Nick Heidfeld and Vitantonia Liuzzi also go out.

1335: Ralf Schumacher spins his Toyota on his warm-up lap and he has yet to record a decent time in the second session. Jenson Button does not appear to be happy with his car either after he comes in for new tyres.

1331: Liuzzi gets his Toro Rosso out first onto the sun-drenched track in Germany.

1330: The session finally gets under way but there is some bad news for the Williams team. Both Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg will lose 10 places on the grid as punishment for the team changing their engines before qualifying.

1320: The second session has been delayed because of a time-keeping glitch in the opening session. A red flag was shown which caused racing to be momentarily - and confusingly - halted. When the timing systems were reactivated Villeneuve was given the seventh fastest time and so stays in qualifying but Christian Klien missed out much to the disappointment of a disgruntled Red Bull team.

1315: The end of a frantic session sees Christian Klien (Red Bull Racing), Christijan Albers (Midland), Scott Speed (Toro Rosso), Tiago Monteiro (Midland), Takuma Sato (Super Aguri) and debutant Franck Montagny (Super Aguri) eliminated.

1311: Michael Schumacher sets the pace on home soil in the early stages while Jenson Button shows his speed with two quick laps in his Honda. Meanwhile, David Coulthard has gone in to the pits again to change his tyres.

1300: Ralf Schumacher is the first out on track in his Toyota as the first 15-minute qualifying session gets under way. David Coulthard and Takuma Sato join him while many other teams stay in the pits.

1250: The teams take in the sunshine as they make their last tweaks ahead of qualifying. Juan Pablo Montoya is all smiles as he prepares for his last race with the old Mercedes engine powering his McLaren.

1230: The weather is dry and sunny at the Nurburgring, where rain has often played a part in the outcome of the race.

World champion Fernando Alonso and Ferrari's Michael Schumacher look set to rejoin battle at this weekend's European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring.

The two were evenly matched in Friday's practice, two weeks after Schumacher moved into second place in the world championship by beating Alonso at the San Marino Grand Prix.

But Alonso is determined to return to the front this weekend and further extend his 15-point championship lead.

This is also a crucial race for McLaren, whose driver Kimi Raikkonen is already 18 points behind Alonso and needs a good result if his title chances are not to evaporate after only five races.

This is one of two home races for McLaren's engine partner and co-owner Mercedes, who have produced an upgraded V8 for Raikkonen to use.

The team are determined to make amends for last season, when Raikkonen crashed out of the lead on the last lap, handing victory to Alonso.

Jenson Button's Honda team will also be determined to prove that they can do more than qualify well, after a disappointing start to the season.