FORMULA ONE / Schumacher third
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso won a thrilling European Grand Prix here on Sunday to become the first repeat winner of the season that had seen seven different winners from the seven previous races.
Less than 24 hours after Spain had secured its place in the semifinals at Euro 2012, the two-time drivers’ champion gave his home fans in Valencia more reason to celebrate.
Alonso, who drove a superb race from 11th on the grid, said: “I can’t express in words my feeling at the moment, to win my home Grand Prix is a unique feeling, and with the football, I’m feeling proud to be Spanish right now.”
Alonso, who picked up a Spanish flag to wave on his victorious slowing down lap, came home first ahead of Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus and third-placed seven-time champion Michael Schumacher of Mercedes.
In a dramatic finale, Lewis Hamilton of McLaren crashed out after a final lap collision with Pastor Maldonado of Williams, an incident that hoisted Schumacher into the top three to make him the oldest podium finisher since Australian Jack Brabham, in 1970, when he was 44.
Tough luck for Vettel
Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull was forced to retire after dominating most of the race from pole position, as also was his nearest challenger, Romain Grosjean of Lotus.
Mark Webber, who started 19th, came home fourth for Red Bull ahead of Nico Hulkenberg.
The results:
1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 1hr 44min 16.649sec, 2. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) +6.421s, 3. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) +12.639, 4. Mark Webber (Red Bull) +13.628, 5. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) +19.993, 6. Paul di Resta (Force India) +22.866, 7. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) +21.176, 8. Jenson Button (McLaren Mercedes) +24.653, 9. Sergio Perez (Sauber) +27.777, 10. Pastor Maldonado (Williams) 34.630, 11. Bruno Senna (Williams) +35.961, 12. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) +37.041, 13. Vitaly Petrov (Caterham) +1:15.800, 14. Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham) +1:34.600, 15. Charles Pic (Marussia) +1:36.500, 16. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) +1 lap, 17. Pedro de la Rosa (HRT) +1 lap, 18. Narain Karthikeyan (HRT) +1 lap, 19. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) +2 laps.
Overall standings:
Drivers: 1. Fernando Alonso 111 points, 2. Mark Webber 91, 3. Lewis Hamilton 88, 4. Sebastian Vettel 85, 5. Nico Rosberg 75, 6. Kimi Raikkonen 73, 7. Romain Grosjean 53, 8. Jenson Button 49, 9. Sergio Perez 39, 10. Pastor Maldonado 30, 11. Paul di Resta 27, 12. Kamui Kobayashi 21, 13. Michael Schumacher 17, 14. Nico Hulkenberg 17, 15. Bruno Senna 15, 16. Felipe Massa 11, 17. Jean-Eric Vergne 4, 18. Daniel Ricciardo 2.
Constructors: 1. Red Bull 176 points, 2. McLaren 137, 3. Lotus 126, 4. Ferrari 122, 5. Mercedes 92, 6. Sauber 60, 7. Williams 45, 8. Force India 44, 9. Toro Rosso 6. — AFP
