Fernando Alonso Wins British Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso got his first win of the 2011 yesterday with in a thrilling race at Silverstone.

It was the first British Grand Prix with the new complex and it promised to be an exciting race as Mark Webber was on pole with Sebastian Vettel second and Alonso third.

It had been a poor qualifying for McLaren as Jenson Button was in sixth with Lewis Hamilton back down in tenth.

It was Vettel who made the better start as he passed his teammate to take the lead at the first corner.

It was all about Red Bull in the early part of the race as they occupied the top two spots - Lewis Hamilton had come flying through the field to take third from Alonso.

The opening few laps were tricky as the drivers had to content with a half wet and half dry track, but once the track had dried out then it was game on.

It was Alonso who appeared to have the speed as he turned in fastest lap after fastest lap - re-taking third from Hamilton on lap twenty four.

But it was to be a problem in the pit that was to cost Red Bull victory as both Alonso and Vettel came in on lap twenty seven.

A problem getting Vettel's left rear tyre on saw Alonso pull out of the pit first and into the lead - Vettel rejoined the race in third behind Lewis Hamilton.

Alonso was away and gone and never came close to surrendering the lead, all the action was behind him as Hamilton slipped to fourth while Webber and Vettel went head to head on the final lap.

But Webber was told to 'maintain the gap' by the team and Vettel came in second with Webber third.

Jenson Button was forced to retire from the race when an error in the pit saw his right front tyre not fitted properly and he was forced to stop before rejoining the race.

Speaking to the BBC after the race Alonso said: "It is a special event for every driver competing in F1, we know the history of this race, a special grand prix and I had the privilege to drive (this morning) the Froilan (Gonzalez) car that was the first Ferrari win in F1," he said.

"Today we won in the same circuit with the same passion, the same group of people who work for this fantastic team.

"This is the big thing about Ferrari, the passion, the victory and the love for victory."

Vettel is now eighty points clear at the top of the standing on 204 points with Webber in second on 124 points. Alonso is currently in 3rd while Button and Hamilton are tied in 4th with 109 points.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw