Mark Webber ignores team orders as he claims British Grand Prix podium place

SILVERSTONE: Frustrated Mark Webber admitted he ignored team orders not to overtake his Red Bull teammate Sebastian Vettel during the final stages of Sunday's British Grand Prix.

Alonso claims first win of season at British GP

Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso won his first race of the Formula One season at the British Grand Prix on Sunday, while Sebastian Vettel increased his overall lead in the championship by finishing second.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso wins thrilling British Grand Prix

• Alonso enjoys first victory of the season at Silverstone• Vettel ends up second while Button fails to finishFernando Alonso won his first grand prix for nine months with the 27th victory of his career as Ferrari continued to improve their competitiveness. It was a memorable way for Ferrari to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their first win here.It was the Spaniard's first victory since his win in South Korea in October last year. But the real thrills were taking place behind him, with Red Bull team-mates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber battling it out for second place and Lewis Hamilton coming under increasing pressure from Felipe Massa.Vettel, who still managed to increase his lead in the world championship table by three points to 80, did hold off Webber to take second. But despite saying in the past that the two drivers were free to race, Red Bull gave Webber the chilling message on the last lap: "Mark, maintain the gap."Webber though, appeared to ignore the message and continued to race Vettel until the end of the race.Hamilton had a brilliant afternoon. Starting in 10th place, with a car well off the pace over the weekend, he charged up the field, overtaking Paul di Resta to take sixth place, before moving up to fifth by passing the other Briton in the race, his team-mate Jenson Button. He eventually finished fourth.But it was another difficult day for McLaren. Button, making his 12th attempt to win a podium place in the British Grand Prix, failed to finish, retiring after a pit-stop mistake resulted in his front right wheel almost falling off.Hamilton only just finished the race, running out of fuel and having to slow down as Massa closed on him. Hamilton was brilliant but his recent criticism of the team was justified.But the day belonged to Alonso. He said afterwards: "This is a very special day for Ferrari and I'm very happy. It means a lot to all the guys who work for Ferrari."Formula OneFernando AlonsoFerrariMotor sportPaul Weaverguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

British Grand Prix - live! | Alan Gardner

• Hit F5 to refresh or turn on the automatic widget below• Email your thoughts to alan.gardner.casual@guardian.co.uk• Check out Heikki Kovalainen's interactive guide to Silverstone12.45pm: BBC shenanigans thus far: Water skiing with Button and Hamilton (Button twisted his knee and almost jeopardised his race); interviewing Prince Harry - who is about eight feet taller than Bernie Ecclestone; talking to Patrick Stewart, who claims if you were going to be run over by anyone "the world champion [Vettel] would be a good place to start". Ah, the glitz and glamour.Anyway, according to Di Resta and Button, half the track is soaked and the other half isn't - I wonder if anyone will go with two wet tyres and two dry? They're about to play the national anthem, which is my cue to go refuel on the black stuff (nothing like a cup of petrol to open your eyes in the morning). The race starts in 15 minutes. Don't go away!12.38pm: Today's pole sitter/No2 driver (and last year's winner).12.34pm: Weather report, with Twitter's Giles Richards:Proper raining at copse now woohoo! #f1 #britishgp #motorsport #silverstoneGood news for the McLarens, that. Like proper Brits, they're only truly comfortable in wet, miserable conditions.12.31pm: The final word on off-throttle blown diffusers, from Mark Webber: "It's nonsense. Nobody really understands it. We don't know what's going on. It's very boring for the fans. I am sure only 0.1 percent of the fans [and journalists] understand what's going on."I think that settles it, don't you?Preamble: Morning all, welcome to lap-by-lap, brrrrm-by-brrrrm, crash-by-etcandsoon coverage of the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Mark Webber is on pole, as part of a Red and Bullish front row that includes the reigning champion, current drivers' standings leader and all-round F1 uber-driver, Sebastian Vettel. Chances of a British race winner look on the skinny decaf side, with Jenson Button's McLaren parked fifth on the grid, five places ahead of his team-mate, Anger Management's Lewis Hamilton. Rumours that Hamilton blew his top in the paddock this morning after being charged 85p for a can of coke are as yet unconfirmed. For today's Plucky Brit In With An Outside Chance Of Podium Glory (aka. The Johnny Herbert Award), keep an eye out on Force India's Paul di Resta, who starts in sixth. Now, shall we do this?British Grand PrixFormula OneMotor sportAlan Gardnerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Mark Webber fastest during British Grand Prix practice

Mark Webber was fastest in a wet first practice for Formula One's British Grand Prix today as the Red Bull driver chases a second successive Silverstone victory.

Silverstone: British Grand Prix preview

The British Grand Prix is one of the highlights of the Formula One calendar, not least given the support of the public as a crowd of over 300,000 is expected over the course of the three days.