Nurburgring: McLaren's Lewis Hamilton produced a monumental drive to take his second win of the season in the German Formula One Grand Prix after an enthralling battle with Ferrari's second-placed Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's Mark Webber.
The only disappointment for the local supporters was Webber's teammate, championship leader Sebastian Vettel, struggled in his home race to finish fourth as rain just about held off.
Vettel's run of 11 successive podium finishes ended but the 24-year-old saw his overall lead trimmed by just three points over Webber to 77 with nine races left.
Pole sitter Webber, who finally led a lap for the first time this year, had watched Vettel win six of the previous nine races, finishing in the top two each time.
This time, both Red Bulls were outshone by the flying Briton who started on the front row and seized the lead into the first corner.
Incredible feeling
"Woo hoo, great job guys, great job. An incredible feeling, oh wow," said Hamilton, who leapfrogged Spaniard Alonso into third in the standings.
Vettel has 216 points, Webber 139, Hamilton 134 and double world champion Alonso 130.
Hamilton, who said he had no chance of pole before seizing second on the grid, made a great start while Alonso also got past Vettel only to lose the initiative.
As the front five predictably pulled away from the pack, Alonso — who won last time in Britain for Ferrari's first victory of the season — retook the struggling Vettel in style at turn one of the ninth lap.
Further drama ensued when Webber, who was only the third man since 1995 to win here from pole two years ago, edged ahead of Hamilton only for the pumped-up Briton to immediately retake the lead with a courageous move down the straight.
Despite rain in the air, the teams began on dry tyres and by the time they first pitted the risk of a traditional downpour in the Eifel mountains had receded.
Red Bull performed their usual heroics in the pits to get Webber back out in front of Hamilton but by the second round of pit stops Alonso found himself ahead before an outrageous pass by the McLaren sent the Briton clear.
A third pit stop had Hamilton just coming out in front and he surged towards the chequered flag for his 16th career win.
RESULTS and standings
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/McLaren) 1hr 37min 30.334sec, 2. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari) at 3.980sec, 3. Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull) 9.788, 4. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull) 47.921, 5. Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari) 52.252, 6. Adrian Sutil (GER/Force India) 1:26.208, 7. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes GP) 1 lap, 8. Michael Schumacher (GER/Mercedes GP) 1 lap, 9. Kamui Kobayashi (JPN/Sauber) 1 lap, 10. Vitaly Petrov (RUS/Lotus-Renault) 1 lap, 11. Sergio Perez (MEX/Sauber) 1 lap, 12. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP/Toro Rosso) 1 lap, 13. Paul di Resta (SCO/Force India) 1 lap, 14. Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams F1) 1 lap, 15. Sebastien Buemi (SUI/Toro Rosso) 1 lap, 16. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/Lotus) 1 lap, 17. Timo Glock (GER/Virgin Racing) 3 laps, 18. Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL/Virgin Racing) 3 laps, 19. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Hispania) 3 laps, 20. Karun Chandhok (IND/Lotus) 4 laps
Overall standings
Drivers: 1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 216.0pts, 2. Mark Webber (AUS) 139.0, 3. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 134.0, 4. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 130.0, 5. Jenson Button (GBR) 109.0.
Constructors: 1. Red Bull 355.0pts, 2. McLaren 243.0, 3. Ferrari 192.0, 4. Mercedes GP 78.0, 5. Lotus-Renault 66.0.
