F1: Vettel Leads Home Webber At British GP

GERMAN SEBASTIAN VETTEL completed a dominant weekend for Red Bull by leading home team-mate Mark Webber to win the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

In potentially the final Formula 1 race at the historic circuit, Vettel dominated from pole, smoothly getting off the line before settling into rhythm and charging ahead of the pack, securing his first ever dry weather win.

Vettel established his dominance during a stunning first stint, extending his lead by a second per lap to end Webber’s hopes of a maiden Grand Prix win, with the Australian trapped behind the slower Brawn of Rubens Barrichello.

While Webber was able to skip ahead of the Brazilian during the first round of pit stops, the damage was already done, leaving the 32-year old to rue a disappointing Saturday qualifying session where he was blocked on his final charge for pole position by Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

A disappointed Webber conceded a runner-up finish was the optimum possible result following qualifying, claiming a front-row berth was necessary to compete with Vettel.

“We needed to get on the front row at least and I think then the first stint today we knew the way that Sebastian was pulling away and Rubens was doing his best, his car did not look that easy, and I was just sitting in behind,” he said.

“It is so difficult to get close here, so the race was virtually lost in that first stint.

“It is the best I could have done today. I don't think I could have got much more from that result, so congratulations to Sebastian, he did a good first stint and that is what laid the foundations. That was really my race.”

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa overcame a disappointing 11th place effort in qualifying to charge to fourth, his best finish of the season as the Scuderia continues to close in on Toyota in the constructor’s race.

Williams’ Nico Rosberg finished fifth while championship leader Jenson Button battled understeer all race to secure sixth place, and three crucial points, leading home Italian Jarno Trulli and former World Champion Raikkonen, who secured the final point.