Fernando Alonso has taken Ferrari’s first victory of the 2011 season at Silverstone.
The Spaniard ran third behind Red Bull Racing pair Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber on a damp track in the early stages, before losing out to a charging Lewis Hamilton.
With the field moving from intermediate to slick tyres at the first pitstop, Alonso retook his McLaren rival for third in the second stint, before leaping to the front when both Red Bull drivers were delayed in their second stops.
Vettel narrowly held off Webber to take second, while Hamilton likewise resisted a late charge from the second Ferrari of Felipe Massa
Nico Rosberg made a two-stop strategy work to finish sixth for Mercedes, ahead of Sergio Perez, Nick Heidfeld, Michael Schumacher and Jaime Alguersuari.
Ninth was a strong result for Schumacher after the German collided with Kamui Kobayashi early in the race, damaging his front-wing.
Jenson Button was the race’s hard luck story however, running fifth for the majority of the race until pulling into retirement with a loose right-front wheel after his final stop.
It was likewise a tough day for Paul di Resta – the Scot turning his sixth place on the grid into a 15th place race result after being delayed by a bad first stop and a later collision with Sebastien Buemi’s Toro Rosso.
Australian debutant finished in 19th and last position after a largely uneventful race.