Mark Webber’s European Grand Prix came to a dramatic end when he crashed violently with Heikki Kovalainen. The Red Bull and Lotus drivers were racing for position and collided at the fastest point of the track approach turn 12. Webber hit the back of the Kovalainen’s car and flew through the air.

Wondering whether we might see our first decent race in Valencia this year I wrote this in the European Grand Prix preview : The best we can hope for is a similar situation to what happened in Turkey, with the faster McLarens and probably Ferraris starting behind the Red Bulls and a battle for the lead developing on-track that way. Well, we’re halfway there.

Say what you like about the Valencia Street Track – at least the photographers can get close to the cars and snap some cracking close-ups. Practice had led us to expect an unusual result in qualifying but it turned into another battle between Red Bull and McLaren. Here’s a selection of pictures from qualifying for the European Grand Prix.

Join us below to follow European Grand Prix Qualifying live. Qualifying – European Grand Prix Useful links Track map Race programme Live F1 video FAQ Live F1 timing Launch the F1 Fanatic Live blog in a new window by clicking here Use this button on the Live Blog panel to turn off auto scrolling so you can read earlier messages. Please remember this is a live blog not live chat – comments are moderated before going live and not every comment is published because we get so many! Keep an eye on the rolling text at the bottom of the live blog window for details like where to find video or what the weather is at the track

Join us below to follow European Grand Prix Free Practice 3 live. Free practice 3 – European Grand Prix Useful links Track map Race programme Live F1 video FAQ Live F1 timing Launch the F1 Fanatic Live blog in a new window by clicking here Use this button on the Live Blog panel to turn off auto scrolling so you can read earlier messages.

Ferrari appear to have the race pace to back up the one-lap performance they showed in the second practice session in Valancia. Red Bull are close behind but McLaren didn’t exhibit the same performance they had in the first session – in terms of straight-line speed or lap time. Here’s the interactive data for the second practice session at Valencia.

Fernando Alonso was the fastest man in second practice at Valencia for the second year in a row. The Ferrari driver led the two Red Bulls, followed by Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. For the second session in a row the red flags came out

Rubens Barrichello won for Brawn at Valencia last year Can you predict the pole sitter and top five finishers in the European Grand Prix?

Join us below to follow European Grand Prix Free Practice 2 live. Free practice 2 – European Grand Prix Useful links Track map Race programme Live F1 video FAQ Live F1 timing Launch the F1 Fanatic Live blog in a new window by clicking here Use this button on the Live Blog panel to turn off auto scrolling so you can read earlier messages. Please remember this is a live blog not live chat – comments are moderated before going live and not every comment is published because we get so many! Keep an eye on the rolling text at the bottom of the live blog window for details like where to find video or what the weather is at the track.

Join us below to follow European Grand Prix Free Practice 1 live.