Alonso extends Formula One lead after Hockenheim win

Spain's Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) became the only Formula One driver to win three times this season when he won the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim today.

In terms of the drivers' championship, the win puts Alonso 34 points ahead of Red Bull's Mark Webber, who had a low-key race, finishing in eighth place.

Alonso, who started in pole position, came in ahead of Germany's Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) and Britain's Jenson Button (McLaren), who climbed up from sixth on the grid to pass Vettel at the second pit stops but was re-passed with two laps to go.

Alonso said: "It was tough, not an easy race. Maybe we were not the quickest in dry conditions but we were competitive and it was enough to maintain the lead.

"Great strategy calls from the team to keep me ahead through the pit stops. I knew it would be a long race to the end, with Jenson putting pressure.

"But the car was feeling good on top speed and traction and that was enough to keep the lead into Turn 6, and after that overtaking is not so easy."

Vettel is third overall in the championship, a further two points adrift, while fourth place for Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen in Germany today moves the Finn ahead of Hamilton, who is now 62 points adrift of Alonso.

The next race, the Hungarian Grand Prix, will be held next Sunday, July 29th, at the Hungaroring on the outskirts of Budapest.