European Grand Prix as it happened

Right, I'm off for a lie down before the football tonight. Thanks for your company and contributions, I've had a blast and hope you have, too. It's been an epic race in what has been an epic season. I'll be back in two weeks for the big one - the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. I'll be live from 09:30 BST on Friday 6 July for first practice which will be live across the BBC. See you at the Home of Motorsport, folks. Adios amigos.

That's it from the boys on the BBC Red Button. Valencia has done us proud with a brilliant race that had everything from overtaking and crashes, to shock retirements and stunning drives. Here's Andrew Benson's report the video highlights which are certainly worth a watch. You can also watch a comprehensive race highlights programme on BBC Two at 22:30 BST tonight.

Before we go, here's a word from race winner Fernando Alonso: "This is the most emotional win of my career, it is unexpected. It is a difficult time for Spain with the economic problems, and we knew we had to give something back. The win was not in our predictions, but we enjoyed it when we did it. We were lucky with some overtaking, because the moves were risky and aggressive, but they go for you sometimes."

The TV boys have dug out some footage which shows Michael Schumacher using his DRS when yellow flags are being waved however BBC F1 technical analyst Gary Anderson says that there's nothing in the rules that say you can't use the DRS in that situation, you just have to prove you are slowing down. Let's wait and see what happens.

Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen, who finished second: "I am never happy if I don't win. I had a good start but I was blocked by Maldonado and had to back off, meaning I lost a few places. There was a lot of fighting in the race. We got second place, which is not too bad, but it would have been nice for the team to get both drivers on the podium."

Conversely, Romain Grosjean's Lotus team-mate Kimi Raikkonen looks as if he was lamenting a retirement, rather celebrating what was a strong second...

You've got to love Romain Grosjean. The man retired from second, when in with a chance of victory, and he's still smiling when doing his post-race interviews. The Frenchman showed great maturity in his drive today and appears to have the upper hand over his more decorated team-mate Kimi Raikkonen. If he keeps driving like that, he will win a race in the future.

Romain Grosjean, who was forced out of the race because of mechanical problems when in second, said: "The car stopped, the engine stopped and I think it was because we had an alternator problem. The race was going perfect, we had a good start and it was a good performance. I thought I would get my first win because we were looking quicker than Ferrari. I am disappointed I didn't get the chance to overtake."

Fernando Alonso is a man in demand. The Spaniard is mobbed by snappers, guests, other team members who want to be part of this special race. He poses for a few pictures before heading into his motorhome to celebrate with his team members.

Force India's Nico Hulkenberg: "P5 is a great achievement. It was a difficult race, if felt long, and I had to battle with the car and other things but I profited a lot from people dropping out in front of us. I am happy."

Pastor Maldonado is off down the paddock towards the stewards office to discuss his incident with Lewis Hamilton. Oh to be a fly on the wall in that meeting...

Force India's Paul Di Resta, who finished seventh: "After 10 laps, it looked like a one stop might work but, if you're trying to do one stop less than anybody else, it's over when the safety car comes out. If we knew the car was coming out, we might have taken a stop then."

Britain's Jenson Button, who finished eighth: "Twelve years of experience doesn't help you this year. I tried moves here and there and nothing worked out, but the car felt reasonably good in the race. The strategy was fine, but we didn't have any luck."

Lewis Hamilton and Pastor Maldonado are due to visit the stewards at 16:00 BST to discuss the incident which resulted with Hamilton crashing into the barriers and retiring, and Maldonado limping home in 10th.

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton refused to bite in his interview with BBC F1 pit lane reporter Lee McKenzie saying: "Big congratulations to Fernando. It was a tough day for us, but that's life. You have to deal with it. We were a long way off winning today." The McLaren driver was flanked by two press officers as he negotiated the paddock after the race and has clearly made the decision not to stoke the flames.

David Coulthard and Eddie Jordan are discussing the Pastor Maldonado and Lewis Hamilton incident with DC pointing out that Maldonado crossed the white line and went off the race track before coming back on track and making contact with Hamilton. If you missed the incident, you can watch it again on this website.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, who finished sixth: "It felt like I was going to finish 15th at one point, so I am pleased with sixth. It was a difficult race and it was a great call for strategy at the end. It gave me many positions. Tyre temperature and degradation was key today, it was such a challenge to get it right."

Mercedes boss Ross Brawn: "Finishing a race and scoring some points was a good step [for Michael]. He's very self-motivated. I've never known that he needs motivation from the outside. We've got some new things for Silverstone. We can't forget how quick Sebastian Vettel looked today, so we've still got a lot to do."

Mark Webber, who finished fourth, and is now second in the championship said: "It was another crazy day. It's difficult to read what will happen on a Sunday at the moment. We're all winging it in terms of strategy. Maybe if I had started at the front, I might not have had the clean run I had from the back. In the end, I got a lot of points so I am happy and it's a good result for the team."

Jake and the boys have cornered Ross Brawn in the Mercedes garage. Will he have any news about a potential penalty for Schumacher?

It seems Mark Webber told his team over the radio that Michael Schumacher was using his DRS while the yellow flags were out. The stewards will have heard that and will no doubt be assessing the data and video replays.

Red Bull Christian Horner confirms that it was an alternator issue on Sebastian Vettel's car similar to that on Romain Grosjean's Lotus so he says they need to work with Renault to find out what went wrong. Horner said: "Sometimes motor racing can be cruel and for Seb today, it didn't go his way."

Michael Schumacher, who finished third to take his first podium since returning to the sport in 2010, said: "I didn't think about a podium at all. I asked my guys at the end of the race where I finished and when they told me third, I couldn't believe it. You lose count of where you are, it was busy at the end of the race."

Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen, who finished second: "I think everybody had old tyres by the end, but I had enough tyres to get past Hamilton - but I didn't have the speed today to challenge for the win. I made a good start but I was blocked by Maldonado so I was a bit behind, but made a good recovery from that position had some hard fighting and overtaking. But second place was not what we wanted."

European Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso: "I cannot put into words the special feeling of winning your home grand prix. It is unique and special. I had the opportunity in Barcelona in 2006 and did the same here in Valencia. The stands were full of colour and Spanish flags and, after the footballers won at Euro 2012, I am feeling very proud to be Spanish at the moment. This is possibly the best victory I have ever had."

The top three have completed their press conference duties, here's what they had to say...

Ferrari technical director Pat Fry: "We had a bit of a tough start to the season, but we're developing the car at a greater rate than everyone else. Q2 was so tight yesterday and if anything, we were over confident. As it turned out, having two new sets of tyres was a big help to get through the traffic."

That's all from the boys on BBC One, but we're far from finished. Flick over to the Red Button or watch in the module above for all the reaction...

Jake reports that there's a rumour Michael Schumacher may have his third place taken away from him for using his DRS during yellow flag conditions. That would be cruel.

It was a mighty drive from Kimi Raikkonen, too. The Finn looked after his tyres in the early part of the race and though it took some time for him to pass Lewis Hamilton, he never gave up and made it happen. He's now sixth in the standings, 38 points behind Alonso and still very much in the game.

What an incredible drive from Fernando Alonso. Was this the greatest drive of his career? The Spaniard was on it from the start, putting all sorts of passes, at all sorts of corners as he battled through the field from 11th on the grid. Alonso wasn't given this race, after Sebastian Vettel retired, he fought tooth and nail for it.

Pastor Maldonado, who collided with Lewis Hamilton before finishing 10th: "He tried to put me off of the track and he didn't give me any room. I jumped over the kerb and couldn't avoid the accident. I don't know why he was driving like that. He tried a very aggressive movement on me."

Fernando Alonso is the first double winner of 2012 and our new championship leader. He leads on 111 points, 10 points clear of Mark Webber with Lewis Hamilton down in third on 88 points.

So here's how they finished: Alonso, Raikkonen, Schumacher, Webber, Hulkenberg, Rosberg, Di Resta, Button, Perez and an ailing Maldonado.

At the fifth time of asking, Valencia's street circuit has delivered the goods. Super scenes.

There was a huge roar when Fernando Alonso picked up his trophy, but the second biggest roar goes to Michael Schumacher. The 43-year-old is back on the podium. Could this be the start of something special?

What a weekend to be Spanish after the national team's success over France on Saturday. There's going to be some celebrations in town later tonight.

The Spanish national anthem rings out around Valencia as Fernando Alonso climbs aboard the top step. Michael Schumacher looks proud to be back on the place he made his home in his first career. The occasion is getting to Alonso. It clearly means so much to him. He's fighting back the tears.

Alonso makes his way up to the podium preparation area, hugs Michael Schumacher and then tidies himself up ready to receive his trophy. What a podium this is - three world champions. Stunning drives from all three.

Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen have a warm embrace as they wait to get onto the podium and wait for Fernando Alonso to stop celebrating with fans out on track. The FIA have sent the safety car to pick up Alonso and he is mobbed by photographers in the pit lane. It's a scrum.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali: "It was an unbelievable race and, for me, it is important that we kept the pace. Our main competitors lost some important points and I am very happy for Fernando, it was an incredible performance. Yesterday was not easy for us, but it's great for us today."

Fernando Alonso is still out on track celebrating with his fans. He's in no rush to get to the podium. He's taken of his helmet and chatting with marshals and waving to the fans. They're singing his name and waving their flags in celebration.

Emotional scenes in the parc ferme as Michael Schumacher leaps out of the car and heads over to his team, thanking each and every one of them with a handshake and hug. That is one happy German and one happy team.

Fernando Alonso is given a Spanish flag as he coasts around the track. He then stops out on track, gets out of his car and punches the air in celebration, standing on the nose of his car. That is one happy Spaniard. He heads over to the grandstands and taks in the applause. The roar from the crowd is incredible. Alonso lays down the Spanish flag neatly on the ground and then poses for photos with the marshalls.

Michael Schumacher is the oldest podium finisher since Jack Brabham in 1970 when he was 44. A brilliant drive from the seven-time world champion who holds off a chasing Mark Webber for third. Kimi Raikkonen finishes an impressive second for Lotus.

MICHAEL SCHUMACHER TAKES HIS FIRST PODIUM SINCE RETURNING TO THE SPORT IN 2010

Sebastian Vettel, who retired on lap 35: "We don't know what happened yet. I lost drive and then the engine stalled the switched off. We don't know what the problem is. Maybe it was the same problem Mark had on Friday. The safety car was not ideal for us and it might be that the retirement is in some regards down to the safety car. So yeah, it's a shame."

Romain Grosjean team radio "Sorry Romain, we lost the alternator - there's nothing we could do about it."

Toro Rosso driver Jean-Eric Vergne, who is the race's only retirement: "I don't have a clear idea, but I was in front and made contact with Heikki. I don't know if it was too close, but I was clearly in front of him."

Don't forget to refresh, if you haven't already, to get all the different cameras on offer above to desktop users, including Live Onboard, Driver Tracker, Pit Lane and Timing Page. Mobile users, your camera views are on your BBC Sport hompage - just scroll down to 'Live video'. Enjoy.

Nico Rosberg team radio: "Tyre temperatures are reaching their critical point, so look after those tyres."

Sebastian Vettel has backed up the field in the final sequence of corners before completing a few burnouts to try and get some more heat into his tyres. The German takes his slot in P1, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean.

The lights have gone out and off they go for the formation lap, with drivers trying to get some heat into their tyres before taking up their grid slot for this 57 lap race.

Paul di Resta is informed that Michael Schumacher, Sergio Perez and Mark Webber have started on the medium tyre, the harder of the two compounds. Will they try and make a one-stop work? Watch this space.

Coulthard has legged it up to the commentary box and is ready to go alongside Ben Edwards. We've got just five minutes left until the lights go out. The grid is starting to clear, leaving the drivers and a few precious mechanics to complete final checks.

David Coulthard is comparing Sebastian Vettel's pole lap with that of Lewis Hamilton who came second. Early on, Vettel is far more aggressive on the kerbs, pulling out a lead of three car lengths in the first half of the lap. But the McLaren driver fights back to reduce the gap to one car length before locking his tyres heavily and losing a bunch of time. No such mistake from the German and he powers across the line to secure the 33rd pole position of his career.

Force India driver Paul Di Resta: "We have had good pace all weekend. We are out of position in 10th but we will try and be positive. It will be interesting strategy-wise today because nobody on the grid knows how many pit-stops will be needed."

McLaren driver Jenson Button: "I need a positive attitude and I have that today. I watched some replays from last year and I did some overtaking. There are no issues with the car and if we have the right strategy and look after our tyres, I think we can have a positive race today."

Caterham driver Heikki Kovalainen, who starts 16th: "My qualifying has been good over the last year and a half and I think it will improve even more as the car gets better. If I was in a Red Bull, I think I would be on pole today."

Mark Webber says he's got "unusual neighbours" after qualifying a shock 19th. Having said that, Heikki Kovalainen, who is a couple of spots further up, is a driver Webber is all too familiar with here in Valencia after spectacularly launching his Red Bull off the back of the Finn's Lotus a couple of years ago. "As you know there's no rewind button," the Red Bull driver added. "We didn't get it right and that's where we are."

There's less than 30 minutes until the lights go out so now seems like a good time to remind you of how they will line up...

There's a sensational feature on BBC One right now with Lee McKenzie getting a passenger ride from Sebastian Vettel around the proposed New Jersey street track. The venue is set to host the 2013 Grand Prix of America, however as revealed on Inside F1 on the BBC News channel on Saturday, F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has cast doubts over whether the race will happen.

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg: "It didn't work out for me in qualifying. I got stuck behind Lewis Hamilton, and to finish sixth was disappointing. Strategy-wise it should be interesting today. Some people will be taking one or two stops, so we'll see how that pans out."

BBC F1 co-commentator David Coulthard has cornered Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, here's what he's got to say...

Lewis Hamilton looks as cool as a cucumber as he strolls through the paddock with his sunglasses on and race suit rolled down to keep cool. Moments later, Fernando Alonso pops his head out of the Ferrari motorhome, spots a gap and scurries across to his garage. That is one man who has plenty to do today starting from P11.

Pastor Maldonado was indeed a star of qualifying and sent his grandstand crazy with his third place. "I'm very happy to see so many fans looking for Williams and for me," he told BBC F1 pit lane report Lee McKenzie. "It's a real pleasure to race for them and my country."

The Williams driver, who starts one place behind Lewis Hamilton, added: "I prefer to be P3 rather than P2 as there's a huge difference in terms of grip. For sure I will try and gain a position from Lewis. It will be a tough race for everybody. These conditions are really extreme, especially for the tyres. It will be tough for everybody."

The grandstands are filling up nicely, the sun is shining and the sunglasses, shorts and, er, beer bellies are out in force. There's huge support for home favourite Fernando Alonso plus countryman Pedro de la Rosa. Pastor Maldonado's well supported, too, so much so, he has his own grandstand full of Venezuelan fans who have made the trip over...

Valencia's street circuit has 25 corners (11 left and 14 right) with drivers reaching a maximum speed of 315kph, with an average speed of 200kph (compared to 150kph at Monaco). Drivers will need to complete 57 laps to see the chequered flag, which will see them cover 308.883km - the distance between Valencia and Barcelona.

The Chain is ringing out on BBC One and BBC One HD which can only mean one thing - it's time to go racing in Valencia!

The German missed qualifying with a stomach complaint after a likely intestinal infection was diagnosed and this morning, the team say he has been advised that "it would be unwise for him to race given the severity of the complaint" so we will only have 23 starters on the grid. We wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him at Silverstone in a couple of weeks.

Marussia's driver Timo Glock, who holds the lap record of 1:38.683 which he set in 2009 when driving for Toyota, has pulled out of the European Grand Prix.

The dream team of Jake, EJ and DC are making their final preparations ahead of the pre-race build up show. That kicks off at 12:10 BST on BBC One and BBC One HD with the lights going out at 13:00. I'm pleased to report that DC's standard issue white jeans are making a return with a bold choice of shirt colour. Sadly, EJ has toned his effort down massively.

While the location is perfect, the track layout has produced very little excitement in the four races it has hosted. This year, though, is different. This year, we've had seven different winners in seven races and with Lotus's impressive race pace and love for hot conditions - which are expected today - the chances of different winner number eight aren't as unlikely as one would think.

Welcome, one and all, to the European Grand Prix in the picturesque Spanish city of Valencia, the birthplace of the nation's signature dish paella and home to the best orange juice in the world - according to Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi.

The double world champion pulled out of the garage, with just a few minutes remaining and produced a lap with 100% commitment and precision. He hit every apex with precision, judged each entry to perfection and accelerated out of each corner masterfully. The result was a 33rd career pole position which draws him level with legends Jim Clark and Alain Prost in the all-time stakes. Only Michael Schumacher (68) and Ayrton Senna (65) are ahead of him.

You reach Q3, the final part of qualifying, having just scraped through after being forced onto the back foot by running again and using up an extra set of soft tyres. You sit in your garage knowing you have just one shot at pole as the clock ticks by in the 10-minute shoot-out. The pressure of the world is on your shoulders as you know you have a car which is capable of securing pole position after a raft of updates. Most would crack under the pressure. Most would make a mistake. However most aren't Sebastian Vettel, a double world champion...