Hockenheim, Germany – Fernando Alonso extended his lead in this year's Formula One drivers' world championship on Sunday when he drove to a flawless victory for Ferrari in the German Grand Prix.
The 30-year-old Spaniard started from pole position and dominated the 67-lap race in consummate style as he came home 3.7 seconds ahead of local hero, defending champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull.
Briton Jenson Button of McLaren, who had proved the potential of his revamped car for a long spell in the race, came home third after being passed by Vettel, who ran wide and off the track, on the penultimate lap.
The race stewards announced they were investigating Vettel's passing move, a statement that left the result unconfirmed pending the result of their decision and any chosen sanction.
Finland's Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth for Lotus ahead of Japanese Kamui Kobayashi and his Sauber team-mate Mexican Sergio Perez, who came home sixth.
Seven-time champion and German hero Michael Schumacher, 43, finished seventh for Mercedes ahead of Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull and another German, Nico Hulkenberg, who was ninth for Force India.
Another German, Nico Rosberg, in the second Mercedes, finished 10th.
It was Alonso's third win this year after his triumphs in Malaysia and at the European Grand Prix and it moved him 34 points clear of Webber in the title race with 154 points to the Australian's 120.
“That was fantastic, again,” Alonso told the Ferrari team on their radio. “Tonight we make some parties on the plane!”
RESULTS
1. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 1:31:05.862
2. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull - Renault +00:03.732
3. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 00:06.949
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus - Renault 00:16.409
5. Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) Sauber - Ferrari 00:21.925
6. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Sauber - Ferrari 00:27.896
7. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Mercedes 00:28.970
8. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 00:46.941
9. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India - Mercedes 00:48.162
10. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 00:48.889
11. Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India - Mercedes 00:59.227
12. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 01:11.428
13. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 01:16.829
14. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 01:16.965
15. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams - Renault 1 lap
16. Vitaly Petrov (Russia) Caterham - Renault 1 lap
17. Bruno Senna (Brazil) Williams - Renault 1 lap
18. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus - Renault 1 lap
19. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Caterham - Renault 2 laps
20. Charles Pic (France) Marussia - Cosworth 2 laps
21. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) HRT - Cosworth 3 laps
22. Timo Glock (Germany) Marussia - Cosworth 3 laps
23. Narain Karthikeyan (India) HRT - Cosworth 3 laps
r. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 11 laps
(rank: r = retired, nc = not classified)
Fastest Lap: Pastor Maldonado, lap 58. – Sapa-AFP