Vettel keeps McLaren at bay
Sebastian Vettel revived his title challenge on Sunday when he cruised to his second win of the season and the seventh of his career in a dramatic and exhilarating European Grand Prix.
The 22-year-old German controlled the race from start to finish on a day when his Red Bull team-mate Australian Mark Webber survived a horrific 300 kph crash in which his car flipped upside down.
It was Vettel’s first win since the Malaysian Grand Prix and his Red Bull team’s first since the Monaco Grand Prix when Webber was victorious. He came home ahead of championship leader Lewis Hamilton who was second, despite being given a drive-through penalty for overtaking the safety car, with his McLaren team-mate and fellow Briton Jenson Button third.
“Germany one, England nil, so far,” joked Button to Vettel as they went to the victors’ podium, in reference to the World Cup match later on Sunday between the two nations. Vettel had earlier been told by his Red Bull team over the team radio that it was “Germany’s best result of the day!”
“It’s good to get a lot of points, good for the championship, so I’m pleased for today. The most important thing Mark is fine. I asked on the radio and I am glad he is okay,” Vettel added.
The result enabled Vettel to jump back into the title race in which Hamilton stayed on top with a lead of six points ahead of Button and the young German in third place. Brazilian Rubens Barrichello finished fourth for Williams ahead of Pole Robert Kubica of Renault.
Superb Sutil finishes 6th
Adrian Sutil steered clear of the chaos around him and drove a sensible race to finish sixth and fetch Force India eight valuable points from an eventful European Grand Prix.
Having started 13th on the grid, the German cut through a cluttered mid-field and grabbed any opportunity that came his way to finish among points.
Teammate Vitantonio Liuzzi came 13th, while Hispania driver Karun Chandhok staved off challenge from his teammate Bruno Senna and Lotus driver Timo Glock to come 19th among the 21 drivers who finished the race.
— Agencies
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