Fernando Alonso took the checkered in Valencia in a stunning Grand Prix. Vettel, who leaded the race all the time he was on the track, was forced to stop due to a reliability issue with the car. Hamilton was forced out of the race in the dying moments after a collision with Maldonado.
Alonso, who qualified all the way down in 11th, gradually stormed up the grid in typical Alonso style, the only way he knows, which is to drive very aggressively. The Spaniard got off to a great start from the grid and jumped a couple places going into the first corner. Progressively, he worked his way up the field and suddenly found himself in the lead after Vettel's car lost drive.
Lewis Hamilton, who started the race in 2nd, was able to hold on to 2nd for around 15 laps, but Grosjean was constantly knocking on the door, and was not able to hold him off, and Grosjean got past, after the his first pit stop, Lewis found himself in an effective third. Hamilton was frustrated on his next pit stop when the McLaren who have struggled all year with the stops, messed it up once again. This seems to get everyone thinking: Will this sway Hamilton's decision on a new McLaren contract or will he look elsewhere?
Hamilton was then further frustrated when towards the very end of the race, Hamilton fairly pushed Maldonando off the track, which we was entitled to do because he had the racing line, but then it seemed that the Venezuelan performed some sort of Kamikaze act, and launched his car into the side of the McLaren, which resulted in Hamilton slamming into the barrier and slamming out of the race, after he was overtaken by Raikkonen comfortably, due to the Brit losing all grip in his rear tires, prior to the incident. The incident is to be investigated and the Williams driver could find himself in serious trouble.
Vettel pulled up at Turn 17 just after the safety car came in, it seemed apparent that the Red Bull team was not expecting this to happen. Alonso overtook Grosjean just after the safety car came in, and with Vettel having to retire from the race, Alonso suddenly found himself leading the Valencia Grand Prix to the huge delight of the Spanish crowd.
More drama, as just a few minutes after Vettel pulled up, Romain Grosjean of Lotus, who at the time was running second behind Alonso, also pulled up, with what Lotus have confirmed as being due to a lost alternator. This meant that Hamilton could then take 2nd place
Raikkonen and Hamilton were both under investigation for overtaking under yellow flag conditions. Hamilton was cleared of the incident, but Raikkonen has not yet been, as he overtook while there were clear double yellow flags, and many of them. The stewards have been tough this year on overtaking during yellow flags and could lose his 2nd place finish.
At the end of the race there was a fantastic podium. Alonso in 1st, Raikkonen in 2nd, Schumacher in 3rd. Schumacher climbing 9 places to his podium finish. Mark Webber had a great race, finishing in 4th place after qualifying way down in 19th. Nico Hulkenberg, finished the top 5, with teammate Paul Di Resta finishing 2 places behind in 7th.
Here are the full results:
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