A record-breaking 315,000 fans turned out at Silverstone last weekend to witness Fernando Alonso’s grand prix win, which ended Ferrari’s dry spell.
The Spaniard took an emphatic victory, more than 16 seconds ahead of closest rival, Sebastian Vettel, giving the team its first triumph in 2011, some 11 races since Alonso took the top step of the podium in Korea 2010.
The race got underway in changeable conditions, with the new grid remaining dry while latter sections of the Northhamptonshire circuit were saturated for much of the race.
McLaren hopefuls, Button and Hamilton, both mounted charges which were ultimately fruitless with an initially hard-charging Hamilton reaching the flag in fourth and Jenson retiring after pitlane woes when a loose wheel forced his retirement.Vettel leapfrogged Hamilton in the final round of pitstops but could not catch the Spaniard.
Silverstone managing director Richard Phillips, said: “This year’s British grand prix attracted the biggest three-day crowd in the event’s history."
Classified top 10 drivers, British grand prix; 52 laps
1. Alonso - Ferrari 1h28:41.1942. Vettel - Red Bull +16.5113. Webber - Red Bull +16.9474. Hamilton - McLaren +28.9865. Massa Ferarri +29.0106. Rosberg - Mercedes +1:00.6657. Perez - Sauber +1:05.5908. Heidfeld - Renault +1:15.5429. Schumacher - Mercedes +1:17.91210. Alguersuari - Toro Rosso +1:19.108
Ben Bostock
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