Ferrari's Fernando Alonso has won a thriling German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, heading off challenges from Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button.
The race verdict was in doubt until the final laps, as Button (McLaren) harried race-long leader Alonso. However, with five laps to run the Spaniard was able to make better progress lapping backmarkers just as Button's tyres started to fade, and pulled clear of any potential late attack using the DRS drag reduction system.
Alonso is now 34 points clear of Mark Webber (Red Bull) in the world championship race, as the Australian could only limp home a lowly eighth.
After his late-race attack on Alonso faded, Button fell back into the clutches of Vettel (Red Bull), who he had passed earlier in the race. On lap 66 the reigning world champion made a move stick on the Briton, although it was deemed illegal by the race stewards and a 20 second penalty dropped him down to fifth.
Behind this pulsating three-way battle, the race was considerably more sedate. Kimi Raikkonen took a lonely fourth on the track for Lotus before being moved up to third after Vettel's punishment. The Saubers of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez showed a deft touch in making their tyres last and split the two-time world champion to finish fourth and sixth from their midfield starting positions.
German Grand Prix result
1. Alonso (Ferrari) 1h 31m 05.862sec
2. Button (McLaren) +6.949s
3. Raikkonen (Lotus) +16.409s
4. Kobayashi (Sauber) +21.925s
5. Vettel (Red Bull) +23.732s
6. Perez (Sauber) +27.896s
7. Schumacher (Mercedes) +28.960s
8. Webber (Red Bull) +46.900s
9 Hulkenberg (Ford India) +48.100s
10. Rosberg (Mercedes) + 48.800s
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Massa
A little ironic that it was a bit of Massa's wing that punctured Hammy's tyre. Seems he can't escape him wherever he is
Really hating these tyres more by the race. World "get your tyres in the correct operating window" championship.
20 sec penalty.
A bit extreme if you ask me,if they had reversed positions between him and Button, i think that would have better,now, because of a little rush of blood,it has now made it harder for Vettel,they had numerous other penalties they could have enforced, a 5 place drop for the nxt GP, a fine just to name two, no, a bit severe for what happened, more questions should be asked of the debris from Massa's front wing not being removed,it put an end to Hamilton's GP.
Sky / BBC?
I have Sky, but watched the highlights on the BBC. I prefer DC to comment - personal choice.
Also skiiped the last two races, Valencia because it's dull and the other because the Tour De France has just been so much more interesting this year. Also starting to like the highlights better as it's allowing me to do other things on a Sunday instead. And this is from someone who's been watching F1 since the 1980s.
Ferrari must have dumped a ton of money on their team for them to have turned their car around. Red Bull just can't quite get it this year, and McLaren seem to be going backwards even though they started the strongest.
But it's still a tyre lottery. Far too dependant upon getting the tyres in their very narrow operating point, and it's taking away from all the technical aspects of F1 and the skill of the drivers. Far too big a factor in F1 right now. It's no longer about who can drive the fastest, but who can make the tyres last the best. That's not F1.
However, wasn't the McLaren pit stops mighty impressive? 2.4s. Couldn't believe it.