European Grand Prix 2011 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Sebastian Vettel bounced back from his Canadian disappointment with a commanding victory at the European Grand Prix on Valencia's challenging street circuit, reasserting Red Bull's dominance and extending his championship lead. The German driver delivered a perfect weekend, claiming pole position, setting fastest lap, and leading from start to finish to beat Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber in what proved to be a processional race on the tight Mediterranean circuit.

Starting from pole with a lap of 1:36.975, Vettel made a flawless start and immediately established control on the narrow, unforgiving Valencia Street Circuit. The Red Bull RB7's superiority was evident as Vettel managed the race from the front, navigating the concrete walls and tight corners with precision while maintaining a comfortable gap to his pursuers. The Valencia circuit, characterized by long straights and tight chicanes around the harbor, proved difficult for overtaking despite the DRS zones, allowing Vettel to control the pace without serious challenge. He also set the fastest lap of 1:41.852, completing a dominant performance that reminded everyone of his championship credentials.

Alonso drove a strong race to secure second place for Ferrari, delighting the Spanish crowd with a solid points haul on home soil. The Spaniard extracted the maximum from the Ferrari F150 Italia despite being unable to challenge Vettel's superior pace, demonstrating his racecraft on a circuit where track position was crucial. Webber claimed third place for Red Bull, ensuring another strong constructor points haul for the dominant team. Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button finished fourth and fifth for McLaren, unable to match Red Bull's pace but collecting valuable points. The race was relatively incident-free compared to Canada's chaos, with the tight circuit and limited overtaking opportunities producing a strategic rather than spectacular event. Vettel's seventh victory of the season moved him 77 points clear at the top of the championship, establishing an almost insurmountable lead with half the season remaining.