Mark Webber Wins British Grand Prix 2012

Red Bull driver Mark Webber is the British Grand Prix 2012 champion after overtaking Fernando Alonso late in the race to edge closer to the lead in the Formula One Championship.

Webber pursued Alonso for most of the Silverstone race before claiming the lead on Lap 48 of 52.

According to Webber:

“It was a very interesting race, I thought at the start Fernando had very good pace. We never gave up, we kept pushing, and it didn’t really work out for Fernando at the end. I’m very proud today.”

Webber is now just 13 points behind Alonso and only the second driver to win multiple races in a season that has been marked by unpredictable outcomes.

The Silverstone track is becoming like a second home to Mark Webber who has now won at the track two of the last three years.

Announcing their pleasure with his performance was Red Bull team principal Christian Horner who said of the victory:

“Mark is doing great for us, we love having him in the team.”

The race was also marked with some breath holding moments, including three Sauber mechanics who received medical treatment after being hit by driver Kamui Kobayashi after he failed to properly brake as he took to the pit on Lap 37. After the race Kobayashi was fined $31,000 because the “very dangerous maneuver … had potentially serious implications.”

Alonso currently leads the drivers’ standings on 129 points, followed by Webber (116), Vettel (100), Hamilton (92) and Raikkonen (83).

The 10th of the seasons 20 races will be the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim on July 22.