SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom - Fernando Alonso delivered Ferrari's long-awaited first win of the 2011 season on Sunday when he made the most of unpredictable and challenging wet-dry conditions to triumph at the British Grand Prix.

The 29-year-old Spaniard, winner of the British race for Renault in 2006, secured Ferrari's first win since last year's Korean Grand Prix with a controlled drive - and some luck - to exploit the controversial revised technical regulations.

"Fantastic day," Alonso said.

It was his 27th career victory, drawing him alongside three-time champion Briton Jackie Stewart in the record books, and came on an afternoon of high drama that saw defending champion and runaway leader Sebastian Vettel's race undone by a slow pit-stop.

Vettel came home second for Red Bull ahead of his teammate Australian Mark Webber - with Red Bull using team orders to stop Webber passing on the final lap.

Briton Lewis Hamilton finished a fighting fourth for McLaren after a superb rousing race.

Hamilton had to bang wheels with the Ferrari of Brazilian Felipe Massa at the final corner to keep his position after his McLaren team had warned him he did not have enough fuel to race at full speed in the closing laps.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 07/11/2011 page24)