Highlights

Alonso takes British Grand Prix

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-06-12 10:10

SILVERSTONE, England, June 11 - Renault's Fernando Alonso led the British Grand Prix from start to finish on Sunday to maintain his vice-like grip on the Formula One championship.

Renault's Formula One driver Fernando Alonso (R) of Spain sprays champagne next to Ferrari's Michael Schumacher of Germany after winning the British Grand Prix at the Silverstone race track in Northamptonshire, central England, June 11, 2006. [Reuters]

The world champion's first win at Silverstone, one of his Anglo-French team's home races, was his fifth in eight races and third in a row.

The 24-year-old Spaniard's lead over Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, the seven-times champion who finished second ahead of McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, increased to 23 points with 10 races remaining.

Alonso has 74 points from a possible 80, with Schumacher on 51 and Raikkonen on 33.

Worryingly for Schumacher, the chances of Alonso's lead narrowing significantly any time soon looked remote after another untroubled Sunday stroll in the sunshine for the youngest of champions.

The Spaniard took the chequered flag a comfortable 13.9 seconds clear with all but the top nine lapped.

Alonso's triumph was his 14th successive appearance on the podium and, when he has not won this season, he has finished second.

Team mate Giancarlo Fisichella finished fourth, increasing Renault's lead over Ferrari in the constructors' championship.

Brazilian Felipe Massa was fifth for Ferrari ahead of Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, last year's winner for McLaren.

BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld took seventh place ahead of Canadian team mate Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion who won at Silverstone in 1996 and in his title year.

CONTROLLED

Alonso, on pole position for the fourth race in a row, led the field through the first corner and controlled the race through to the chequered flag.