The different winners run was finally put to an end with Fernando Alonso giving Ferrari their second victory this year in front of his home crowd on the Valencia street circuit. The Spaniard came from eleventh on the grid to claim the win, but initially looked destined for a podium finish at best as world champion Sebastian Vettel appeared intent on making it a European Grand Prix hat-trick for himself and Red Bull Racing. When the German's near 20-second cushion was wiped out by the safety car, it made the race more interesting, but not as much as his subsequent retirement on the second lap after the restart.

Vettel appeared to be running away with the race as he continued to pile on the pace through the first part of the race, although his speed did raise the question of just how many pit-stops he was planning to make during the 57-lap distance. With the majority of the field looking at two or three changes of tyres, the guess was that the world champion may be aiming for the latter, needing to build a gap - albeit not one as big as required by most circuits - in order to retain his victory aspirations.

Alonso's race could have come unstuck when he became embroiled in a multi-car battle ensnared by Michael Schumacher - which at its height included no fewer than nine of the German's rivals - but nipping past the Mercedes for sixth on the road allowed him vital breathing space that allowed him to catch and pass the late-stopping Paul di Resta and move back into the top four approaching half-distance.

By then, Vettel had stretched out nearly 19secs over his pursuers, and the race appeared to be in his pocket until Jean-Eric Vergne's ill-advised swerve at Heikki Kovalainen that not only damaged both cars but also left the track covered with sufficient debris to warrant the appearance of the safety car. Although the decision came late enough to deny Vettel the chance to make his second stop when those immediately behind them could, the German was still able to complete his tyre change and slot in behind the safety car as it trundled round for five laps.

Although both Grosjean and Alonso did their best to keep close to the Red Bull as they approached the restart, a minor error by the Frenchman allowed Vettel to open enough of a gap to ensure that he would not be challenged. The slip proved more costly than that for Grosjean, however, as it allowed Alonso - who took a wider line into the final turn - to power past into turn two. Hamilton also nailed Raikkonen for fifth before Kobayashi and Massa collided, costing the Brazilian a potential point’s finish as he headed back to the pits for repairs.   This time, there was no need for the safety car, but that would have been academic for Vettel, who seen coasting through the DRS zone, his engine dead. Alonso a non-factor in qualifying was now his successor at the front of the field.

While Alonso held firm at the front, Schumacher and Webber continued to make ground, running in tandem to depose of Button on lap 48, Perez five laps later, before di Resta fell next time around. The turning point in their respective races came a little later, however, as, first, Raikkonen finally found a way past Hamilton, who was struggling with badly-worn rear tyres, and, then, Maldonado set about trying to follow the Finn, the scent of another podium filling his nostrils. After taking a look into turn one, it was later on lap 56 that the matter came to a head, as both drivers ran side-by-side through the DRS zone. Maldonado held the outside line, allowing Hamilton to ease him towards the kerbs, but, instead of opting for the cut-through with all four wheels off the racing surface, the Venezuelan attempted to rejoin the track and pass Hamilton at the same time, resulting in heavy contact that pitched the McLaren driver into the wall.

With Maldonado hampered by the loss of his front wing, Schumacher and Webber were promoted to fourth and fifth, which quickly became third and fourth as they accounted for Hulkenberg on the same lap. The podium finish was Schumacher's first since he returned to F1 in 2010, and the 155th of his career, ending a 99-race wait for silverware.