Fernando Alonso has been the winner of a great race the took place in SIlverstone. It has been the most exciting grand prix of the season so far. We have seen everything. Passing, fighting and turnovers during the whole time.
The Spaniard was getting better and better as time went by, showing that his team has chosen a dry setup while all other teams seemed to be leaning towards wet.
The race started with all drivers on intermediate tyres, as the biggest part of the track was wet. Mark Webber made another terrible start and allowed his team mate Sebastian Vettel to pass him easily. Fernando Alonso had also pushed Webber for P2 but with no luck. Jenson Button managed to pass Felipe Massa but lost his place to the Brazilian soon afterwards. Lewis Hamilton also passed Jenson Button who seemed to run on different setup than his team mate.
Immediately after the first lap, the Red Bulls started pulling away at a pace of more than 1sec/lap, showing that it was going to be very difficult for someone to challenge them.
By lap 10, Alonso had closed the gap between him and Webber and started pushing his rival for P2. At the same time, Lewis Hamilton was right behind Felipe Massa, also pushing him hard.
After the first pit stop round, both McLaren drivers managed to pass the two Ferrari. Button had passed Massa for P5 while Hamilton passed Alonso for P3. By lap 20 the first five drivers were on the same pace. Vettel, Webber, Hamilton, Alonso and Button.
Fernando Alonso made his move on Lewis Hamilton on lap 24, passing him for the second place. He has been the fastest man on the track for three consecutive laps befor this.
Fernando Alonso managed to get in P1 right after the second pit stop round. The combination of his spectacular driving during the previous laps and the mistake of the Red Bull mechanics during Vettel's pit stop, gave him the chance to lead the race. Vettel dropped down to P3 behind Lewis Hamilton, while Mark Webber was 4th.
After the third pit stop round, Vettel managed to pass Lewis Hamilton, taking P2 behind Alonso. Jenson Button had to retire after a mistake caused by his mechanics, who let him go without having properly attached his front right tyre.
Marc Webber got past Lewis Hamilton as he has been urged to conserve fuel if he is about to make it to the end. The Australian had the pace to get in front of his team mate during the final laps, but his team urged him to keep his distance, through the radio. Massa managed to get right behind Hamilton, passed him, got passed again and finished behind the Briton for just a fraction of a second.
The race results are as follows :
01. Alonso Ferrari 1h28:41.194
02. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 16.511
03. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 16.947
04. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 28.986
05. Massa Ferrari + 29.010
06. Rosberg Mercedes + 1:00.665
07. Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 1:05.590
08. Heidfeld Renault + 1:15.542
09. Schumacher Mercedes + 1:17.912
10. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:19.108
11. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 1:19.712
12. Petrov Renault + 1:20.600
13. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth -1
14. Maldonado Williams-Cosworth -1
15. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes -1
16. Glock Virgin-Cosworth -2
17. D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth -2
18. Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth -2
19. Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth -3
Button McLaren-Mercedes -11
Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari -26
Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari -28
Trulli Lotus-Renault -41
Kovalainen Lotus-Renault -49
