2012 European Grand Prix

Lore & Background

Fernando Alonso won his second Grand Prix in Spain, with Kimi Räikkönen finishing second. Michael Schumacher finished third at age 43 years and 173 days, the oldest driver to climb to the podium since Jack Brabham at the 1970 British Grand Prix. It was Schumacher's best result since his comeback in 2010 and the final podium finish of his Formula One career. Alonso was the first to win his home race since Michael Schumacher in 2006.

In Their Own Story

The sun beat down on the Mediterranean coast as the grid lined up, the air thick with anticipation and the smell of burning rubber. In the garage, the Red Bull team huddled around the telemetry screens, eyes fixed on the tire temperature data. Vettel gripped his wheel, feeling the familiar hum of the Renault engine beneath him. As the lights went out, he surged forward, not just fighting for a position, but for the soul of the championship.

Reader's Guide

The race used a single, longer DRS zone with the detection point on the approach to Turn 8 and activation between Turn 10 and Turn 11, brought forward 70 metres from 2011. Pirelli brought medium (prime) and soft (option) tyres. Sebastian Vettel took pole position, his second of the season and third consecutive pole at Valencia. Alonso won, Räikkönen was second, Schumacher third.

Did You Know?

• Michael Schumacher's third-place finish was the final podium of his Formula One career.
• Sebastian Vettel took his 33rd career pole position, moving into joint third with Alain Prost and Jim Clark on the all-time list.
• All drivers started the race in the same positions they qualified, as no penalties were implemented.