The top three qualifiers for Sunday's Belgian GP. Sebastian Vettel (centre) wo starts on pole position, Lewis Hamilton (left) second best qualifier, and Mark Webber in third

In a dramatic Q3 qualifying session, Red Bull's German driver Sebastian Vettel held off Lewis Hamilton's McLaren in difficult weather conditions in Saturday's qualifying to secure pole position for the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix.

The defending Formula One champion will start from the front for the ninth time this season. As Vettel improved Hamilton’s pacesetting time for McLaren of 1m 48.730s to 1m 48.298s. Mark Webber made it a strong day for the defending team champions with 1m 49.376s to secure third place on the grid.

Jenson Button's hopes of following up his win at the Hungarian Grand Prix took a blow as he failed to make the third and final qualifying session. He will start from 13th.

Seven-time former champion Michael Schumacher, racing at Spa 20 years after making his F1 debut on this track, crashed out on the first lap of the first qualifying session and will start the race in last place.

Felipe Massa sprung a surprise by qualifying his Ferrari fourth on 1m 50.256s, but team-mate Fernando Alonso could only manage eighth on 1m 51.251s. That left the Spaniard behind fifth fastest Nico Rosberg on 1m 50.552s, splendidly on-form Jaime Alguersuari who took his best-ever qualifying slot of sixth in the Toro Rosso on 1m 50.773s, and surprise of the meeting Bruno Senna who put his Renault seventh with 1m 51.121s.

Behind Alonso, Sergio Perez was ninth for Sauber on 1m 51.374s, with Vitaly Petrov 10th in the second Renault on 1m 52.303s.

Just after Webber set the pace, having been second to Button in Q1, Sutil went fifth fastest then promptly dropped his Force India at the exit to Eau Rouge, bringing out the red flag with just under seven minutes left as the track was cleared of debris.

When things resumed, there was further drama. Hamilton went fastest right near the end, after passing Williams’ Pastor Maldonado on the exit to the Bus Stop. But then the Venezuelan drove into the McLaren on the exit to La Source, having appeared to veer deliberately to the left.

Just as that was happening, Alonso went fastest, the last man to cross the line as condition improved. But there was more bad news for McLaren. Button didn’t get a run right at the end after a misunderstanding with the team, and his 2m 05.150s lap left him only 13th, behind Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi on 2m 04.692s and Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi on 2m 04.757s.

Behind Button, Rubens Barrichello was 14th for Williams on 2m 07.349s, ahead of Sutil on 2m 07.777s, Maldonado on 2m 08.106s and Lotus’s Heikki Kovalainen on 2m 08.354s.

Everyone had a hurry-up as rain was expected in Q1, but ultimately it just held off, but there was immediate bad news for Mercedes as Michael Schumacher’s right-rear wheel fell off as he approached Rivage on his out lap. As the MGP W02 crashed, his chances of a lap time disappeared on the 20th anniversary of his sensational debut.

The other unlucky man of the session was Force India’s Paul di Resta. He looked good initially but spun near the end. Just as he seemed likely to squeak through in 17th place he was bumped by Kovalainen. Thus the Scot will start 18th, ahead of Lotus’s Jarno Trulli.

Virgin team mates Timo Glock and Jerome d’Ambrosio, and HRT team mates Tonio Liuzzi and Daniel Ricciardo come next. The last three all failed to beat the 2m 10.339s 107 percent time, but along with Schumacher are expected to be allowed to start.

Starting Grid for Sunday's Belgian Gp

1 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) and Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2 Mark Webber (Red Bull) andFelipe Massa (Ferrari)
3 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) and Jaime Alguersuari (STR)
4 Bruno Senna (Renault) and Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
5 Sergio Perez (Sauber) and Vitaly Petrov (Renault)
6 Sebastien Buemi (STR) and Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber)
7 Jenson Button (McLaren) and Rubens Barrichello (Williams)
8 Adrian Sutil (Force India) and Pastor Maldonado (Williams)
9 Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus) and Paul di Resta (Force India)
10 Jarno Trulli (Lotus-Renault) and Timo Glock (Virgin-Cosworth)

Did Not Qualify
Jerome d'Ambrosio (Virgin-Cosworth)
Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT-Cosworth)
Daniel Ricciardo (HRT-Cosworth)
Michael Schumacher (Mercedes)