Formula 1 News

Webber takes maiden F1 win at Nurburgring 

First podium finish in the season for Felipe Massa

Red Bull’s Mark Webber, after his maiden pole position in qualifying, took his first ever Formula 1 victory at the 2009 German Grand Prix ahead of team-mate Sebastian Vettel, who completed the third one-two finish in the season for Red Bull Racing.

Third place and first podium finish this year for Ferrari’s Felipe Massa ahead of Williams’ Nico Rosberg, Brawn GP’s Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Renault’s Fernando Alonso and McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen.

2009 German Grand Prix, lap by lap highlights.

The weather forecast predicts no rain at least for the first hour of the Grand Prix. All drivers will start with slick tyres, most of them on the softer compound.

Formation lap: Mark Webber starts from pole for Red Bull Racing for the first time in his Formula 1 career after an excellent qualifying. Next to the Australian there’s Brawn GP’s Rubens Barrichello. Behind the two, championship leader Jenson Button and local hero Sebastian Vettel. Fifth and sixth spot on the grid for the two McLarens ahead of Force India’s Adrian Sutil and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa. Last position on the German grid for Toyota’s Timo Glock after a three-place grid penalty for blocking Fernando Alonso during qualifying. However, the German will take the start from the pitlane.

Race start: Barrichello jumps ahead, then Webber, Kovalainen and Massa. Hamilton had a great start but went wide at Turn 1 and he now has a puncture.

Lap 59/60: Button overtakes Massa into Turn One for P4. Vettel attacks Massa. Button now looking to pass Kovalainen for P3. Hamilton pits for a tyre change. Trulli pits.

Lap 58/60: Replays show a slight contact between Webber and Barrichello at the start.

Lap 57/60: Barrichello P1, Webber P2, Kovalainen P3, Button P4, Massa P5, Vettel P6, Raikkonen P7 and Sutil P8.

Lap 56/60: Webber almost tailing Barrichello for P1.

Lap 55/60: Button tailing Kovalainen for P3.

Lap 54/60: Team radio for Massa: his engineer suggests to look after the rear tyres.

Lap 52/60: Race control informs that the contact between Webber and Barrichello at the start is under investigation. Vettel attempts to pass Massa at the chicane but the Brazilian defends the position.

Lap 49/60: Race Control: drive-through penalty for Webber for causing a collision with Barrichello at the start.

Lap 48/60: Force India going strong today: Sutil P8, Fisichella P11.

Lap 47/60: Pit stop for Button, 6.6 secs, back in P14.

Lap 46/60: Barrichello pits, Webber takes his drive-through. 6.6 secs for Barrichello, back in P4.

Lap 45/60: Kovalainen pits, 8.4 secs, back in P15.

Lap 44/60: Webber leads followed by Massa, Barrichello, Vettel and Raikkonen. However, the Red Bulls and the Ferraris have to pit soon.

Lap 43/60: Webber P1 with 11 secs on Massa. Alonso pits. Button passes Buemi for P11. The Briton is now after Heidfeld.

Lap 42/60: Button passes Heidfeld at Turn One for P10. Webber pits, 8.8 secs, back in P7. Bourdais pits: he’s out.

Lap 41/60: Massa leading the race followed by Barrichello.

Lap 40/60: Team radio for Hamilton: he asks the team if he should save the engine and the gearbox for the next race.

Lap 39/60: Vettel pits, 8.6 secs, he rejoins in P6. Buemi and Trulli pit.

Lap 38/60: Button P8, pressuring Webber P7.

Lap 37/60: Kubica pits.

Lap 36/60: Raikkonen pits, 7.7 secs, he rejoins in P10.

Lap 35/60: Massa pits, 7.9 secs, back in P9.

Lap 34/60: Heidfeld, Piquet pit.

Lap 33/60: Sutil pits. 6.8 secs, he rejoins alongside Raikkonen. Collision between Raikkonen and Sutil.

Lap 32/60: Sutil pits again for a front wing change.

Lap 31/60: Rosberg pits, 7.3 secs. Barrichello leads, then Webber, Button, Vettel, Massa, Rosberg, Raikkonen and Kovalainen.

Lap 30/60: Race Control: incident between Raikkonen and Sutil to be investigated after the race.

Lap 29/60: Button pits for the second time. 6.7 secs, back in P7. Nakajima pits.

Lap 28/60: Barrichello pits: 11.4 secs after a problem with the fuel rig, back in P5.

Lap 26/60: Button passes Raikkonen for P6. Raikkonen is slowing. Glock yet to pit. Raikkonen pits: he’s out.

Lap 25/60: Webber P1, Vettel P2, Massa P3. Fisichella pits.

Lap 23/60: Pit stop for Glock.

Lap 21/60: Alonso pressuring Kovalainen for P7.

Lap 20/60: Kovalainen pits.

Lap 17/60: Webber pits: 7.1 secs, back in P2.

Lap 16/60: Vettel pits: 6.8 secs, back in P6. Kubica pits.

Lap 15/60: Massa pits, 6.0 secs, back in P7.

Lap 14/60: Alonso pits. Sutil pits.

Lap 13/60: Rosberg pits.

Lap 12/60: Webber P1, Barrichello P2, Button P3.

Lap 10/60: Barrichello pits: 5.8 secs, he rejoins in P6.

Lap 9/60: Button pits: 6.2 secs, he rejoins in P5 ahead of Barrichello. Webber P1, Vettel P2, Massa P3, Rosberg P4.

Lap 6/60: Barrichello under attack from Alonso.

Last lap: After the maiden pole position in qualifying, Red Bull’s Mark Webber takes a dominant win at the 2009 German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring scoring his first ever victory in F1 ahead of team-mate Sebastian Vettel. First podium finish for Ferrari’s Felipe Massa ahead of Williams’ Nico Rosberg, championship leader Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Renault’s Fernando Alonso and Heikki Kovalainen.

2009 German Grand Prix, race results: