A podium for Vettel

Sebastian Vettel, who drove to pole position on Saturday, lifted third place in the German Grand Prix, on his home turf in Hockenheim.

Surprised by the two Ferraris, positioned just behind him, right from the start, the young German went on to run a solid race that enabled him to maintain his position. “I'm happy to mount the podium on my home ground. We can be proud of this third place,” declared Vettel.

The Red Bulls, which outclassed the rest at Silverstone, proved incapable of knocking out the competition in Germany. On the rapid Baden-Würtemburg circuit, Mark Webber finished sixth. Fourth on the starting grid, the Australian quickly found himself behind the two McLarens, and was subsequently unable to get past them: “I just wasn't in the fight today and so I'm already concentrating on Hungary,” he declared. Webber has even lost a little ground on Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button in the Drivers' Championship.

In the Constructors' World Championship the Red Bulls are now lagging by 28 points behind McLaren and the next Grand Prix, in Hungary, could prove crucial in the race for the title. Vettel and Webber are neck and neck in the Drivers' Championship, in 3rd place, behind the two McLarens.

Two R30s in the points

For its part, Renault can contemplate its weekend with satisfaction. With two cars in the points at the flag, the contract has been fulfilled. Robert Kubica finished seventh, his starting position on the grid.  “It was an exciting race. I got off to a good start and then did battle with the Mercedes so as not to relinquish my place,” said the Pole, after the end of the race. He has collected six points and moved closer to Nico Rosberg, who he now trails by five lengths, in the Drivers' rankings.

His team mate, Vitaly Petrov, picked up the point for 10th place. The Russian finished in the points for the second time this season, inversely to Kubica, who has been absent from the top ten on just two occasions.

Petrov, who started thirteenth on the grid, found himself tenth just a few laps from the flag: “This was an interesting race. I thought I had finished eleventh, but I was wrong… to my great pleasure!” Eric Boullier, the Renault boss, can breathe more easily, too. “The team did a great job and Vitaly drove well. Having said that, improvements to the single-seaters are in the pipeline and I am even more optimistic for the future.”