Vettel leads Turkish GP from start to finish

F1 Grand Prix, GP Turkey, Istanbul Park

Despite all on-track action going on during this Turkish GP, Sebastian Vettel didn't have to car too much as he kept ahead of everyone all the way through the race. Mark Webber completed a perfect race for Red Bull while Fernando Alonso secured the first podium for Ferrari this season.

Contrary to China, Sebastian Vettel took an excellent start and could easily maintain his first position from pole. Nico Rosberg quickly took second as Mark Webber struggled to get off the line. He came under pressure from Lewis Hamilton, but the latter was on the dirty side of the track on turn 5 and fell back several places, behind Jenson Button who took 5th.

After lap one Sergio Pérez came in for a new front wing while Michael Schumacher also broke his front wing as he refused to back off from Petrov who attempted an overtake at the end of lap 2. Fortunately for Michael, that was just ahead of the pitlane entry so he didn't lose too much time running with a broken front wing.

Only few laps later it is obvious that Rosberg is struggling with a high fuel load. Webber makes an easy pass thanks to the DRS, and two laps later Alonso has gone by as well. To prove Ferrari's race pace, Felipe Massa then also passes Lewis Hamilton on lap 10, just before both men dive into the pitlane. An impressive pitstop by the Woking guys brings Hamilton out on track again ahead of Massa.

Vettel takes 2 more laps before taking his first stop and he rejoins the track few seconds behind Button. The Briton took the lead for a few laps but gave it up again when he pitted 3 laps after Vettel did.

Michael Schumacher meanwhile is having trouble defending his position against Force India and Sauber cars. By lap 16 the German is down to 16th position.

At the front, Vettel leads 3s over his teammate Mark Webber. Fernando Alonso is an impressive third, just 2 seconds behind the second Red Bull. At least the pressure is on Red Bull and they won't be able to cruise over the finish line.

Lap 21 marks another interesting overtaking move, although it is one that eventually failed. Massa was trying to find his way past but even with DRS failed to get enough of an advantage. At turn 10 he eventually got past, but Rosberg managed to get ahead again in the final slow corner complex. Half a lap later though Massa makes the same move stick, but by then Button joined the party and managed to pass Rosberg through the outside of turn 14.

Two laps later Massa attempts to defend his position ferociously to Button but locks the left front badly in the approach to turn 13. He immediately dives into the pitlane where Ferrari mechanics were quick to get the tyres ready after Alonso just left the pitbox for his own stop.

Button then makes his second stop on lap 26 and is a little hampered due to a problem with a left rear problem. He is bang on for a three stop strategy that could well see him move up the pecking order after others make one more stop. Button rejoins the track just ahead of Rosberg in a pack of traffic.

At the same time Alonso posts the fastest lap of the race and reduces the gap to Webber to 0.8 seconds. That moves him into the DRS window. A single lap later Alonso already shot past Webber on the straight and was well ahead of Webber when starting to brake for turn 12.

On lap 34 it was time for Hamilton to have a bad stop, but much worse than Button had earlier on. The team just couldn't get the right front wheel nut fixed, and when it eventually came right, Hamilton could not immediately leave the box as Massa dived into the Ferrari box, placed just ahead of McLaren's.

One lap later Webber pits for the harder tyres. Alonso stops one lap later and comfortably stays ahead of the Australian. The latter however manages fastest lap of the race on the harder tyres and keeps himself in the fight for P2. One lap later it's Alonso who sets the fastest lap. Sebastian Vettel meanwhile is ahead of them, but nursing his tyres to try to make it to the finish with just 3 stops instead of four.

Mark Webber then makes his fourth stop at the end of lap 43. A single lap later Alonso pits to cover Webber's stop. A single lap later Massa pits as well after getting passed by Rosberg for 8th place. Nico had just pitted for his final stop.

Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull eventually decided to cover the stops of Webber and Alonso as well and not take a chance of struggling to the finish line on worn tyres.

The final stint is again unfolding into an intensive battle as Mark Webber closes into Alonso and Nico Rosberg is catching Button.

On lap 52 Webber dives into the outside of turn 12 and can keep the move stick, even despite fierce defence by Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari.

Massa and Schumacher are also switching places down in 12th position, and together they move closer to Jaime Alguersuari. In turns 12 to 14 they both took the Spaniard, but one straight further Massa retakes his position from Schumacher is now moves up into the points. It was close, but as Massa was on the inside of turn 1, Schumacher eventually had to give in and went off track, temporarily giving away his gained position on Alguersuari.

Some last lap traffic could not distract Vettel and the German comfortably won his third GP of the year. Mark Webber is second and Fernando Alonso third.