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The Spanish fans were celebrating the second place by Fernando Alonso as a victory. But against Sebastian Vettel was in Valencia once again grown no cure. The German controlled the race from the start, team-mate Mark Webber secured himself third place ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Felipa Massa. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner compared the race with a chess game. “We had to make every train at the right time. It was tough because it was close to Ferrari,” said Horner.

Especially when the tire Startegie and it was hard. “Because if you pushed too much, the tires were quickly drove over to Sebastian today very intelligent -. It was a strategic race,” Horner told. At the start, both Red Bulls were able to defend their positions, followed behind the two Ferraris. Loser of the launch was Hamilton who was only after the first round to fifth.

Button also lost a position and was followed in seventh place. The Briton had said before the race yet confident that Vettel will not fly away. But that did the German. Right from the first round, he sat down on Webber, was already 1.3 seconds after a round in front. As a result built the Red Bull driver per lap from his lead by half a second. Button had to react to approaching and sucked thanks to DRS front man Nico Rosberg.

In the sixth round of the Mercedes overtook Button without problems. Surprisingly, early Pastor Maldonado went to the pits. The Sauber driver already turned in to the pits on lap eleven. A short time later by Alguersuari, Petrov and Heidfeld. Paul di Resta was still there, although the Scot complained already in the ninth round over the radio about his deterioration of the tires. Be the first of the top pilots took off on lap 13 Hamilton a new set of tires.

One lap later, Webber came into the pits – followed by Vettel and Alonso, who drove in formation flight in and out of the box. Within a few laps Michael Schumacher had to drive twice the Mercedes-box. Petrov had driven him after his first pit exit through the front wing – the race stewards found themselves in exactly this incident again, but spoke of no punishment. Alonso went ahead at the top to the cheers of the Spanish fans past Webber and chased the leader Sebastian Vettel.
Fight vs. Webber. Alonso

At the second pit stop the Spaniard lost his position again to Webber, the place went back but the last two stops, while Vettel drove safely on top. Not at all in the struggle at the top could intervene Canada winner Jenson Button, whose KERS in the last third of the race did not work. Problems were found with Rosberg, whose radio was impossible. After all, Rosberg took seventh place championship points. “Nico has taken place seven, which corresponds to behind the top teams of Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren Mercedes with our current performance level,” said Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug.

After the extra pit stops were the points for Schumacher out of reach. Instead, he had the ignominy of a lapping to go through and crossed in 17th place the finish line. Lewis Hamilton, who was criticized for his actions last race as a “Rambo” returned, this time no mistake. The transmission problem of Webber in the final laps, the McLaren driver could not exploit to his advantage and finished the race in fourth.

A team with the history of Ferrari is usually satisfied with just winning, but on Sunday in Valencia, Scuderia was also pleased with second place to some extent. Fernando Alonso drove a good race had a Red Bull and the other beaten quite a long time pressure made. “Our sole aim must be to win – after all we are Ferrari – but in all the circumstances we can be satisfied with this result,” it also said team boss Stefano Domenicali.

He had seen not only a good race by Alonso, Felipe Massa’s performance and that led to fifth place, was honored with praise. “They both fought almost to the end with their main opponents. Fernando came in front of his home fans in front of a Red Bull and got a fantastic platform. The only negative point was Felipe’s second pit stop that cost him perhaps the chance to end up with Hamilton to fight for fourth place. But he also drove a good race from the start, where he and Webber gutmachte two places attacked, “said the team boss.
Silverstone uncertain

Places two and five are not enough for Ferrari, Domenicali therefore also warned at the outset that now must be given more gas in order to improve the car in preparation for Silverstone on. “That’s where we want to acknowledge the progress we have made on routes that are not the characteristics of the car so. We are here also find out whether the technical changes that the FIA ​​has made with respect to the exhaust and will be introduced there, to change something or not, everyone will lose power, it is a question of who paid the ultimate price, “said Domenicali.

Alonso wanted to bask in his success first time in Valencia a little. Because he had the podium at the European Grand Prix had targeted fixed, since this trophy next to those of Abu Dhabi and – obviously – that of India is still missing. “I hope I will have my full collection at the end of the year. I was glad again to be able to drink champagne, especially before these great fans in Valencia,” he said. The result also meant to him because of the good mood a lot, even if he is not so great in the car mitbekam. “I could feel but that was as much enthusiasm as I was passing Webber.”
McLaren was slower

However, not only for themselves but for the whole team was the result of Alonso well because it was confirmed that it is in the right direction. He acknowledged, however, to have had some luck at the start, since he of the dirty side on first sight not got off well, but then found out a gap and so pushed forward to number three. “It was important to shake off the McLaren same because they slower today than we were. That meant we concentrated on Webber and reached our goal.” When he had cracked the Australian, wanted to look at Alonso Vettel, because more can happen, but he saw that Red Bull is still superior. “Still, it was important that we remain close and have managed to avoid a double victory. We have to continue racing for racing so. We know that this is difficult at Silverstone because the track is in her car with the best.”

Massa had to worry that it could still be a little harder when Pirelli selects the medium and hard compounds for Silverstone, because Ferrari could then have problems getting them into the working window. For now, he was once so happy to have fought well in the race in Valencia. “I wanted out of the option tires get the most, because we sensed that our pace with the prime would not be as good. The problem with my second stop was a shame because I lost four or five seconds, which cost me the chance to fight against Hamilton for fourth place, “said the Brazilian.
Almost touch at the start

The Massa especially annoyed because he had seen purely from a performance point of both Ferraris in front of the McLarens. This was achieved but only halfway, “I had a good start, came over to Hamilton and Fernando. Then I also wanted to attack Webber, but he made the door and we touched nearly so Fernando got the chance to walk around outside and me to get back. I have a few had problems with my second set of tires, but with the next, which was too early even worn, it was much better. In the end it was even with the medium is not so bad and I was able to drive ordinary times “said Massa.