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British GP: Mark Webber wins after late pass on Fernando Alonso

By Andrew BensonChief F1 writer at Silverstone

Last updated on .From the section Formula 1comments135

Red Bull's Mark Webber beat Ferrari's Fernando Alonso in a close battle to win the British Grand Prix.

Alonso led much of the race from pole position, but Webber benefited from a different tyre strategy to chase the Spaniard down after the final pit stops.

Webber passed Alonso into Brooklands with four laps to go and held him off to the flag.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel took third ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton struggled to eighth and team-mate Jenson Button 10th.

The McLaren's lack of pace on the high-speed sweeps of Silverstone two weeks after it struggled on the slow-speed Valencia street circuit is a serious concern for Hamilton's title hopes.

He is now fourth in the championship, 37 points off Alonso, whose lead over Webber has been cut to 13 points. Vettel is third, 29 points behind Alonso.

McLaren, who started the season with the fastest car, appear to have been left behind by Red Bull and Ferrari, who have both improved their cars dramatically in recent races.

Alonso and Webber fought a private battle for victory, which was decided by tyre choices.

Ferrari chose - as McLaren did Hamilton - while Red Bull went for the more conventional choice of softs.

The decision meant that after the final pit stops Alonso was on the soft tyre and Webber on the hards, which turned out to be the better race tyre.

Webber closed a four-second deficit in eight laps and Alonso was helpless to fend off the Red Bull as Webber passed him around the outside of the Brooklands corner at the end of the DRS overtaking zone.

The Australian became after Alonso only the second driver to win two races this season.

He said: "I've had a few [wins], but this one is taking a little bit to sink in. It didn't look like a spectacular race between us initially, but it was one - pacing the stints on the tyres, Fernando starting on the harder tyre...

"After the first stint Fernando had I thought he was in good shape to close the win out. But it came our way and I am absolutely over the moon, absolutely rapt.

"I had a single opportunity to pounce and I wasn't going to let that slip. Fernando, with the front-left tyre, if you lose balance around this place, the speed is very high in that [second] sector and it's very hard for the driver to do something.

"It was obvious he was pushing as hard as possible but the balance wasn't with him."

Alonso said: "The victory was quite close today, but Mark was much quicker in the last laps and he deserves the victory. But I am very proud of the progress Ferrari have made in the last few weeks and we are now fighting for victories in the last few races."

The threatened rain never came, and the race took place in sunshine.

As Alonso and Webber battled at the front, Vettel, who slipped back from fourth on the grid to fifth behind Massa on the first lap, made use of an early first pit stop to pass the Brazilian.

Nevertheless, it was Massa's most impressive race for some time, and it was a timely performance as Ferrari consider who will partner Alonso at the team next year.

The Lotus drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean were fifth and sixth, while Michael Schumacher, whose Mercedes faded from its third-place grid slot, passed Hamilton in the closing laps to take seventh.

Williams driver Bruno Senna and Button took the final points places.

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135 comments

  • Comment posted by Rach1985, at 17:45 8 Jul 2012

    Fantastic race by Mark and Fernando. And good to see Massa back on some form. The Red Bulls and Ferraris seem to be very close now. And but for a better start the Lotus Renaults are good too. Mclaren is the 4th best car on the grid and need a big upgrade for Germany.

  • Comment posted by MCForty, at 19:57 8 Jul 2012

    So glad for Mark Webber, level headed competitor who could (should) have been a world champion in 2010. McLaren have regressed and it's very worrying for their fans including me. Fair enough, the testing period for their new upgrades was washed out but those upgrades should have been used 3 or 4 races ago when the other teams were developing, now they're going to have to play catch up. #toolate

  • Comment posted by U4950004, at 17:08 8 Jul 2012

    Congratulations to Mark Webber on a well-earned victory. Congratulations also to Fernando Alonso on a hard-fought defence and for being so gracious in defeat. Two superb drivers fought each other fairly and squarely and the best man on the day won.

  • Comment posted by Puddingclub, at 10:01 9 Jul 2012

    Mark Webber, well deserved win for a truly nice guy.

  • Comment posted by garagista, at 17:08 8 Jul 2012

    Well deserved result for Mark.

  • Comment posted by PaultheAfro, at 18:50 8 Jul 2012

    Oh dear, Mclaren have spent the last month using all their brain power to fix their pit stops that they forgot they need to develop the car - now a midfield team at best.

    And happy to see Webber outclassing Vettel - if Red Bull are going to rule again then would be happy to see the Aussie bring the championship home.

  • Comment posted by U13748313, at 01:21 9 Jul 2012

    Boring race today in my opinion.

    Interesting first few laps but very processional afterwards.

    The importance of tyre management is killing the spectacle. Nobody can really push anymore. I want to see drivers driving the wheels of the car, not constantly in conservation mode.


    Then of course you have DRS overtakes, which are in no way challenging.

  • Comment posted by schuey is god, at 22:58 8 Jul 2012

    Anybody who says that was a good race is deluded between laps 2 and 45 nothing happened schumacher inadvertently ruined the race as a spectacle by holding guys up so the top 5 were well spread out and am i the only one who thinks that in terms of outright race performance lotus are streets ahead

  • Comment posted by Rach1985, at 21:14 8 Jul 2012

    Let's be honest, the only 'legends' on the grid are Schumacher and maybe Alonso I think. Both Vettel and Hamilton have plenty of time to earn legendary status but neither are there yet. I think history will be the best judge of us all.

  • Comment posted by U12525194, at 19:43 8 Jul 2012

    That was a great interchange between Hamilton and Alonso, all very respectful and fair - if that had been last season Hamilton would likely have done something daft and (somehow) taken out Massa in the process!
    Nice to see he's matured a lot over the winter, perhaps he should have a word with Maldonado; he's becoming very frustrating to watch and has needlessly lost so many points this season.

  • Comment posted by Rach1985, at 19:06 8 Jul 2012

    On Maldonado, his excuse he was on cold tyres. Well a sensible driver would realise this and take it into account. The guy has raw speed but is so hot headed. Surely He needs to take a step back and not keep blaming something else and look at himself. He is throwing points away, and giving Williams a headache they don't need. He doesn't know when to give best. He must learn this.

  • Comment posted by Rach1985, at 22:50 8 Jul 2012

    @83 Vettel has potential to be a legend but he isn't there yet. I think if you asked Vettel himself who knows a lot about the history of F1 he wouldn't consider himself there yet. Give the lad some time before branding him a legend.

  • Comment posted by Sibbwolf, at 21:01 8 Jul 2012

    And that, boris, is where we must disagree. Vettel is not a legend. He drove to two championships mainly by having the best package for more than two seasons. Look at this season - The Red Bull's good, but not such a clear front runner.

    The main reason Red Bull don't want LH now, is just what you said: They don't think they can take SV and LH at the same time. Look at FA and LH in '07; ego wars?

  • Comment posted by _MikKar_, at 20:48 8 Jul 2012

    Great drive from Alonso and Webber. Again, this race showed what's wrong with F1 : it's all about tyres. Alonso did all the hard work during the race only to be mugged at the end. Not that RB were wrong, on the contrary, but skill is no longer in driving now, skill is in strategy and tyre management. Arguably, Ferrari and Red Bull seem to know how to do it, McLaren can take a leaf out of it.

  • Comment posted by duncan , at 19:42 8 Jul 2012

    Betty post45. Unlike many of the British Drivers Mark at least pays tax in the UK,
    However, I cheered him over the line because he is a great driver something mnay of the fans at Silverstone can recognize we don't all just cheer someone because there are English

  • Comment posted by U14570971, at 19:36 8 Jul 2012

    @45 I'm sure Webber (as did Alonso) consider silverstone to be that bit more special to win, due to making 'home' in the UK. This is not something just made up by the media, Alonso is actually quoted as saying as much in 2006 when he beat schumacher by nearly 14 seconds (the latter in the faster car)

  • Comment posted by Rach1985, at 18:56 8 Jul 2012

    Can't understand why Bernie insists on putting the grand prix on the same day as Wimbledon final. Surely the week before or after men's final would make more sense. Again though Mclaren need to push now. So pleased with how Ferrari have improved, and if red bull win would rather it be Webber. C'mon Alonso keep it up :)

  • Comment posted by U15198894, at 18:41 8 Jul 2012

    Martin Whitmarsh should go; other teams have made changes in management and managed to get themselves going forward. Mclaren seem to be in the dark ages, management included, only step they made was hiring a guy Williams wanted shot of...You also have to wonder how much effort Lewis and Jenson are putting into the development of the car?? I bet JB is doing more!

  • Comment posted by Sibbwolf, at 18:26 8 Jul 2012

    I'm annoyed at the McLaren team (including both drivers) - the car at the start of the season was in a good place for both drivers. They've made changes since, gone backwards and unsettled one of those drivers.

    Koby made a mistake today, but to call him dangerous is silly. He's rough, yes, but nothing like a certain other driver.

    Great race overall.. and welcome back Massa!

  • Comment posted by IfIsF1Backwards, at 17:35 8 Jul 2012

    Cracking race and absolutely well deserved by mark! 2 wins a piece... Beautiful!
    lso excuse me oudinot, have you been watching the same races everyone else has?
    To be fair, pastor does need to curb his aggressiveness down a touch, but hes still mighty good, and how in the hell is KK a liability? hes the only one that goes for any space... brilliant exciting driver is koby, bring on germany!

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