Fernando Alonso won his 18th Grand Prix today at Germany's Nurburgring in what can only be described as a highly eventful and dramatic race. The conditions and rain made it a very difficult start for the drivers as no sooner was the race under way than the track was flooded, which soon led to six cars including championship race leader Lewis Hamilton aqua planing off the track.
To his credit the 22 year old Brit kept his engine ticking over even in though his McLaren was wheel deep in grit, once a crane lifted his car back onto the track Hamilton rejoined the race. However, conditions got so bad that it wasn't long before the race was called to a halt.
The race restarted under Red Flag conditions with Hamilton left at the back of the grid, added to which he was a full lap behind. The rules state that cars which have been lapped can overtake while the safety car takes the rest of the cars around the circuit. Hamilton did exactly that but inexplicably he then decided to change to dry tyres instead of catching up the rest of the pack.
It turned out to be a disastrous points losing decision as Lewis soon spun off the track again. The remainder of Hamilton's race was spent trying to fight his way back into contention. The championship race leader gave it his best shot and displayed some fantastic overtaking skills, but it wasn't to be as he finished in ninth position, one place out of the points.
Meanwhile Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso had a battle royal with the Brazilian looking almost certain to win the race, but that all changed in the final laps as once again the heavens opened and the drivers raced into the pit-lane for once last tyre change.
The race ended as it had started in very dramatic fashion as Alonso and Massa's wheels momentarily came together as Alonso took the lead and raced onto the chequered flag.
Alonso's win means that Lewis Hamilton's championship lead has been cut to just two points.
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