Formula 1: Alonso defends championship lead
Second place at the flag and championship lead defended: the British Grand Prix at Silverstone was very positive for Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard recorded the fastest lap during the wet qualifying session and, in doing so, claimed his first pole position of the current season. The two-time Formula 1 World Champion led the majority of the race in his Ferrari, which is equipped with dampers from the ZF Friedrichshafen AG, before having to pay the price for his deteriorating tyres.
His team mate Felipe Massa was also impressive around the traditional British race track. The Brazilian posted his best performance of the season and only narrowly missed a podium place after finishing fourth. Of the other runners on the grid Sergio Pérez and Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber-Ferrari) also rely on the ZF Friedrichshafen AG dampers. The Toro Rosso-Ferraris of Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo race with dampers and clutches from the ZF Friedrichshafen AG.
Result GP Europe (GB), round 9, FIA Formula 1 World Championship, 06.07.– 08.07.2012:
1. Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault, 1h 25m 11.288s
2. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 3.060s ZF
3. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, + 4.836s
4. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, + 9.519s ZF
5. Kimi Räikkönen, Lotus-Renault, + 10.314s
6. Romain Grosjean, Lotus-Renault, + 17.101s
7. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, + 29.153s
8. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, + 36.463s
9. Bruno Senna, Williams-Renault, + 43.347s
10. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, + 44.444s
Drivers’ World Championship standings:
1. F. Alonso, 129 points; 2. M. Webber, 116; 3. S. Vettel, 100; 4. L. Hamilton, 92; 5. K. Räikkönen, 83; 6. N. Rosberg, 75; 7. R. Grosjean, 61; 8. J. Button, 50; 9. S. Pérez, 39; 10. P. Maldonado, 29.
Manufacturers’ World Championship standings:
1. Red Bull-Renault, 216 points; 2. Ferrari, 152; 3. Lotus-Renault, 144; 4. McLaren-Mercedes, 142; 5. Mercedes, 98; 6. Sauber-Ferrari, 60; 7. Williams-Renault, 47; 8. Force India-Mercedes, 44; 9. Toro Rosso, 6.
Other results:
Result Silverstone (GB), round 6, Supercup, 06.07.– 08.07.2012:
1. René Rast, Porsche, 25m 41.015s ZF
2. Norbert Siedler, Porsche, + 0.415s ZF
3. Sean Edwards, Porsche, + 0.586s ZF
4. Kuba Giermaziak, Porsche, + 5.349s ZF
5. Patryk Szczerbinski, Porsche, + 7.979s ZF
6. Kévin Estre, Porsche, + 8.237s ZF
7. Michael Ammermüller, Porsche, + 10.891s ZF
8. Nicki Thiim, Porsche, + 12.778s ZF
9. Sebastiaan Bleekemolen, Porsche, + 15.380s ZF
10. Jeroen Mul, Porsche, + 16.289s ZF
Drivers’ Championship standings:
1. R. Rast, 78 points; 2. S. Edwards and N. Siedler, 77; 4. K. Estre, 57; 5. K. Giermaziak, 52; 6. C. Engelhardt, 49; 7. N. Thiim, 41; 8. R. Lukas and M. Ammermüller, 37; 10. S. Bleekemolen, 35.