Alonso gives Ferrari first win of season
Spaniard triumphs at British GP ahead of Red Bull’s Vettel, Webber.
SILVERSTONE:
Fernando Alonso delivered Ferrari’s long-awaited first win of 2011 when he made the most of unpredictable conditions to triumph at a thrilling British Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old Spaniard, winner of the British race for Renault in 2006, secured Ferrari’s first win since last year’s Korean Grand Prix with a controlled drive – and some luck – to exploit the controversial revised technical regulations.
It was Alonso’s 27th career victory, drawing him alongside three-time champion Briton Jackie Stewart in the record books.
And it came on an afternoon of high drama that saw defending champion and runaway leader Sebastian Vettel’s race undone by a slow pit-stop.
Vettel finished second ahead of his Red Bull teammate and pole setter Mark Webber, with McLaren’s home favourite Lewis Hamilton in fourth after a superb rousing race.
Red Bull used team orders to stop Australian Webber passing Vettel on the final lap.
“Hold the gap, maintain the gap, keep station,” the Red Bull team told Webber, who respected that order.
Vettel, who crossed the line over 16 seconds behind Alonso, retained his lead in the drivers’ championship on 204 points from Webber on 124 with Alonso moving up into third on 112.
“A fantastic day, fantastic day,” said a delighted Alonso on the team radio during the slowing down lap.
“A great win,” said Ferrari team chief Stefano Domenicali.
Alonso leapt from his car at the end, as the crowd were released on to the circuit, and waved his steering wheel in celebration, banging his hand against the prancing horse logo.
“It is a great win, we stayed calm when we had to and we did the job,” said Alonso.
Hamilton had to bang wheels with the Ferrari of Brazilian Felipe Massa at the final corner to keep his position after his McLaren team had warned him he did not have enough fuel to race at full speed in the final laps.
Massa finished fifth ahead of German Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes, Mexican Sergio Perez for Sauber and German Nick Heidfeld of Renault.
Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher came home ninth for Mercedes and Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari was 10th for Toro Rosso.
Vettel, who had nipped past Webber at the start, led until lap 27 when he came in for his second stop and suffered a mini-disaster when the left rear wheel caused problems.
This was a gift to Ferrari and Alonso, who had pitted simultaneously, but more quickly, swept out in front to take the lead for the first time.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2011.
Fernando Alonso delivered Ferrari’s long-awaited first win of 2011 when he made the most of unpredictable conditions to triumph at a thrilling British Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old Spaniard, winner of the British race for Renault in 2006, secured Ferrari’s first win since last year’s Korean Grand Prix with a controlled drive – and some luck – to exploit the controversial revised technical regulations.
It was Alonso’s 27th career victory, drawing him alongside three-time champion Briton Jackie Stewart in the record books.
And it came on an afternoon of high drama that saw defending champion and runaway leader Sebastian Vettel’s race undone by a slow pit-stop.
Vettel finished second ahead of his Red Bull teammate and pole setter Mark Webber, with McLaren’s home favourite Lewis Hamilton in fourth after a superb rousing race.
Red Bull used team orders to stop Australian Webber passing Vettel on the final lap.
“Hold the gap, maintain the gap, keep station,” the Red Bull team told Webber, who respected that order.
Vettel, who crossed the line over 16 seconds behind Alonso, retained his lead in the drivers’ championship on 204 points from Webber on 124 with Alonso moving up into third on 112.
“A fantastic day, fantastic day,” said a delighted Alonso on the team radio during the slowing down lap.
“A great win,” said Ferrari team chief Stefano Domenicali.
Alonso leapt from his car at the end, as the crowd were released on to the circuit, and waved his steering wheel in celebration, banging his hand against the prancing horse logo.
“It is a great win, we stayed calm when we had to and we did the job,” said Alonso.
Hamilton had to bang wheels with the Ferrari of Brazilian Felipe Massa at the final corner to keep his position after his McLaren team had warned him he did not have enough fuel to race at full speed in the final laps.
Massa finished fifth ahead of German Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes, Mexican Sergio Perez for Sauber and German Nick Heidfeld of Renault.
Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher came home ninth for Mercedes and Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari was 10th for Toro Rosso.
Vettel, who had nipped past Webber at the start, led until lap 27 when he came in for his second stop and suffered a mini-disaster when the left rear wheel caused problems.
This was a gift to Ferrari and Alonso, who had pitted simultaneously, but more quickly, swept out in front to take the lead for the first time.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2011.