Mark Webber wins 2012 British GP

Mark Webber has managed to make hay while the sun was shining at Silverstone and won the 2012 British Grand Prix. Webber headed home polesitter Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) and his Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel.

The race itself was quite nondescript and, once again, it was tyre strategy that had as much influence on the result as outright race pace. Following the awful conditions for yesterday’s qualifying the teams weren’t expecting today’s sunny weather. Of course, a dry race start meant drivers were free to choose from either the soft or hard compound slicks.

Alsono and Ferrari played their card early by choosing to start the race on hards, while their competitors behind went for softs. For the most part it looked as though Ferrari had made the right call; Alonso led the majority of the race and was able to rejoin in the lead after making his final stop.

The soft tyres were the slower of the two compounds and Alonso saved them for last, while Webber ran them in his first stint. With 14 laps left to go it was soon apparent that Alonso would be at the mercy of Webber, as his soft tyres lost their grip. And so it came to pass on lap 48 with a sterling move from Webber to take the race lead around the outside of Alonso. From there Webber was able to hold station and win by three seconds.

It’s the Australian’s second win in 2012, following his victory in Monte Carlo, and the ninth of his career. Today’s win is also Webber’s second at Silverstone, adding to his “not bad for a number two driver” race in 2010.

We didn’t see much of Daniel Ricciardo today, but he did what he needed to do and out qualified his Toro Rosso teammate, Jean-Eric Vergne, and then finished ahead of him in the race, even if it was only by a bit over two seconds.

Fernando Alonso continues to lead the drivers’ championship, albeit with his margin cut by 7pts thanks to Webber’s win. The Aussie remains second in the title race and is building some momentum. While Sebatsian Vettel’s third place has moved him into third in the championship as well.

Final placings and updated championship positions are listed below. We’ll have a bumper pictorial of Webber’s win for you in the next 24–48 hours.

2012 British Grand Prix final placings

1. Mark Webber (Red Bull) 52 laps – 25pts
2. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) +3.060 – 18pts
3. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) +4.836 – 15pts
4. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) +9.519 – 12pts
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) +10.314 – 10pts
6. Romain Grosjean (Lotus) +17.101 – 8pts
7. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes AMG) +29.153 – 6pts
8. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) +36.400 – 4pts
9. Bruno Senna (Williams) +43.300 – 2pts
10. Jenson Button (McLaren) +44.400 – 1pt
11. Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) +45.300
12. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) +47.800
13. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) +51.200
14. Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso) +53.300
15. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG) +57.300
16. Pastor Maldonado (Williams) +1 lap
17. Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham) +1 lap
18. Timo Glock (Marussia) +1 lap
19. Charles Pic (Marussia) +1 lap
20. Pedro de la Rosa (HRT) +2 laps
21. Narain Karthikeyan (HRT) +2 laps

Not classified/retirements:

Sergio Perez (Sauber), lap 11
Paul di Resta (Force India), lap 2
Vitaly Petrov (Caterham), DNS

Fastest lap: Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus), 1:34.661

2012 World Championship (Drivers’ top 10) – Round 9

1. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) – 129
2. Mark Webber (Red Bull) – 116
3. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) – 100
4. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) – 92
5. Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus) – 83
6. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG) – 75
7. Romain Grosjean (Lotus) – 61
8. Jenson Button (McLaren) – 50
9. Sergio Perez (Sauber) – 39
10. Pastor Maldonado (Williams) – 29

2012 World Championship (Constructors’) – Round 9

1. Red Bull Racing-Renault – 216
2. Ferrari – 152
3. Lotus-Renault – 144
4. McLaren-Mercedes – 142
5. Mercedes AMG – 98
6. Sauber-Ferrari – 60
7. Williams-Renault – 47
8. Force India-Mercedes – 44
9. STR-Ferrari – 6