STORY OF THE DAY: Alonso Breaks Through at Silverstone

Fernando Alonso won the 2011 British Grand Prix at Silverstone in the number 5 Ferrari 150 Italia. It was Ferrari’s first victory of the season and came sixty years after José Froilán González secured the Scuderia’s first World Championship Grand Prix win at the same circuit. Sebastian Vettel finished second and Mark Webber third.

The race began on a partially wet track, and Alonso remained within reach of the leading Red Bulls as conditions improved. During the pit stops, a delay for Vettel helped Ferrari gain the advantage. Alonso then produced strong pace on dry-weather tyres, passed Lewis Hamilton for the effective lead and drew clear to give Ferrari a symbolically important Silverstone success.

The Ferrari 150 Italia was named in recognition of the 150th anniversary of Italian unification. It used a carbon-fibre composite chassis and Ferrari’s 2.4-litre Tipo 056 V8, with both KERS and an adjustable rear wing. Development during the season improved its performance in warmer conditions and on softer tyre compounds.

Spanish driver Alonso entered Formula One with Minardi and became a two-time World Champion with Renault. He joined Ferrari in 2010 and immediately fought for the title, bringing speed, technical judgement and formidable racecraft. His Silverstone victory was the outstanding result of Ferrari’s challenging 2011 season.