Alonso wins thrilling European GP; mechanical problem forces Vettel retire; Hamilton crashes out

FERNANDO ALONSO underlined his reputation as perhaps the best driver in Formula One by winning a thrilling European Grand Prix — despite starting in 11th place.

But it was a miserable race for McLaren as Lewis Hamilton was planted into a tyre wall on the second-last lap by Pastor Maldonado, while Jenson Button finished down in eighth.

This race had a dash of everything — including a podium finish for third-placed Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen, who was second.

At the halfway stage it had been so different when reigning champion Sebastian Vettel held a 20-second advantage over Hamilton.

Yet a thrilling climax saw Vettel and then Lotus’ Romain Grosjean forced to retire with mechanical problems.

On the grid before this race, all eyes were on Vettel’s Red Bull, which underwent some major upgrades for this race.

The team’s mechanics did their best to conceal the latest tricks that have been thought up by the team’s technical genius Adrian Newey.

Whatever the upgrades consisted of, they certainly did the trick in Saturday’s qualifying session, with Vettel blitzing his way to pole position ahead of Hamilton.

The McLaren driver admitted he was surprised that he was second on the grid, but warned that Vettel would be tough to beat.

Force India’s Paul Di Resta was doing a sterling job in fourth trying to preserve his tyres until they finally gave way.