news

2012 British F1 GP: Mark Webber Storms To Victory

Mark Webber and Red Bull executed a perfect strategy to defeat Fernando Alonso in an intense battle that stretched across the entire race at this weekend's 2012 British F1 Grand Prix. Webber's Red Bull teammate finished third, with Ferrari


Mark Webber and Red Bull executed a perfect strategy to defeat Fernando Alonso in an intense battle that stretched across the entire race at this weekend's 2012 British F1 Grand Prix.

Webber's Red Bull teammate finished third, with Ferrari taking second and fourth in a race that stayed dry and sunny throughout.

Race

The grid formed under welcome sunny skies, something in short supply this weekend, with Webber on the front row beside polesitter Alonso.

Poor Vitaly Petrov didn't even make it to the grid from the pits, his Caterham suffering a fuel pressure failure on the way to his slot.

Alsonso took an aggressive posture off the start, reminiscent of the man behind him, Michael Schumacher. Webber had to swerve to avoid contact as Alonso cut across him, but he maintained his second place and his front wing.

Behind him the field mostly stayed off each other, but Paul di Resta's miserable weekend saw him gain a puncture and he had to limp to the pits. The contact was with the Lotus of Romain Grosjean.

Kimi Raikkonen almost pulled off the move of the season by going down the inside of both Massa and Vettel, but ended up on the kerb, pushing his prey wide. Vettel swiped Massa's gearbox with his front wing but escaped major damage.

Williams' Bruno Senna made up five places while Button picked up several spots and fought hard with the Lotus of Grosjean and the Mercedes of Rosberg.

Hamilton kept eighth while Perez rocketed up behind him and attacked mercilessly but unsuccessfully, settling for ninth.

Grosjean pitted for a new front wing on the second lap and had a horror stop while the Lotus team struggled to fit the new wing.

Webber stayed within a second of Alonso but was unable to do much about him even with DRS. Daniel Ricciardo stayed out of trouble in the first few laps and moved up a place to fifteenth.

Alonso and Webber were in a race of their own as Michael Schumacher backed up the cars behind him, third to ninth covered by 2.5 seconds on lap 10.

Vettel was the first to pit on lap 11, the reigning champion switching to the prime tyres, a purely strategic move to put him in clear air. The move dropped him into the clutches of the mid-pack.

Chat with us!







Chat with Agent