German Grand Prix (2012) RESULT

With Alonso on pole and Vettel alongside – and rain in the air – is the 2012 German Grand Prix going to be Silverstone repeated?

Qualifying for this year’s German Grand Prix in Hockenheim was a rather damp affair, with final qualifying run in a monsoon. A monsoon that saw Fernando Alonso put his Ferrari on a convincing pole with the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel alongside.

But the rain had gone for the race today which should have given McLaren a much better chance than they would have had in the rain. And it did – sort of.

For Hamilton it was all a bit if a shambles, in this his 100th Grand Prix, as he lost two places off the line and ended up getting a puncture from debris on the track after Massa went in to the back of Raikkonen. That saw a reluctant Hamilton – who seemed to want to retire at this point – back out in 22nd place.

But, despite ultimately retiring, he managed to unlap himself from Vettel and Alonso and in the process helped his team mate Jenson Button in to second place behind Alonso as the pit stops worked through and Button got the better of Vettel.

But despite harassing Alonso, Button never managed to look like he’d pass the Ferrari, and as the race drew to a close he fell back and was passed by Vettel. But that pass was all off-track and it seems likely Vettel may lose his second place after the stewards have their say (NOTE: Vettel has now been demoted to fifth place as a penalty for the overtake on Button).

Behind the leaders Raikkonen got his Lotus up to fourth followed by the two Saubers and Michael Schumacher. Mark Webber ended where he started – in eighth place – and the top ten were rounded off by Hulkenberg in the Force India and Rosberg in the second Mercedes.

Alonso’s win in Hockenheim extends his lead in the drivers’ championship to 34 points and, although Hamilton had a frustrating day, it looks like McLaren has found the speed they’ve been losing since the opening rounds.