2012 European Grand Prix The European Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso had his national team win last night, he takes victory today on home soil in front of an adoring public and takes a clear lead in the world championship - not a bad weekend all in all. His victory celebration encapsulated the raw emotion and just what it means to him.

Raikkonen scores another second place and valuable points for the championship, Michael Schumacher will be pleased to get his season on track with his first Mercedes podium finish.

Many hard luck stories elsewhere. Sebastian Vettel, Romain Grosjean and Lewis Hamilton were all visibly gutted after their exits, while the race could have ended so much better for Pastor Maldonado. Fast but wild, the Venezuelan can be inspirational or impetuous depending on which day it is.

This was the 2012 European Grand Prix weekend on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for your company over the last three days of action. We will be back for round nine of the campaign - the British Grand Prix from Silverstone - in two weeks' time.

Stick with AUTOSPORT for all the reaction to a cracking race around the streets of Valencia.

Plenty of the stewards to ponder after this one, with the late clash between Maldonado and Hamilton sure to high on the agenda.

Red Bull still has a strong lead over McLaren in the constructors' race, with Lotus now closing on the Woking team.

Hamilton falls to third in the standings after a costly shunt with Maldonado, while Vettel will be ruing his retirement as well. He's fourth

Alonso's second win puts him back in control of the championship with 111 points, while Webber's consistency is rewarded by second place.

Alonso makes sure to take a well deserved drink after an astounding victory. Another photo for the snappers before the four men move away at the end of an incredible race.

The top three drivers and Andrea Stella stand atop the podium for the traditional end of race photo, before the champagne sprays.

Cheers from up and down the pitlane as Schumacher finally returns to the podium and gets his third place trophy.

Kimi Raikkonen receives his award for second place in today's race. The ice man is cool and barely cracks a smile as he waves to the crowd.

Alonso's race engineer Andrea Stella picks up the constructors' award for a remarkable Ferrari win.

Alonso is clearly emotional as he collects the winner's trophy on home soil. He leads the title race once again.

Alonso can hardly believe this result and he is overcome with emotion on the podium.

That is followed by the Italian national anthem for this afternoon's winning constructor - Ferrari.

The top three drivers walk out onto the podium and the Spanish national anthem rings out for today's winner - Fernando Alonso.

Four drivers retired from today's race:

Grosjean ground to a halt while in contention for the win, while Vettel sensationally retired from the lead on the restart lap after the safety car.

Kobayashi and Vergne were both involved in incidents and the latter may find himself in trouble with the stewards later.

Alonso is returned to the pits with a lift in the medical car and he makes his way through a huge crowd of snappers and towards the podium.

De la Rosa ended up 17th with team-mate Karthikeyan 18th. An undoubtedly annoyed Hamilton was the final classified finisher in 19th.

Raikkonen congratulates Schumacher as they wait behind the podium for Alonso to make it back to the pits.

Massa ended up a lowly 16th, while his team-mate jumps up and down uncontrollably in front of the Spanish public.

Out of the points, Senna finished in 11th with Ricciardo 12th, Petrov 13th giving Caterham some good cheer, Kovalainen 14th and Pic 15th.

Schumacher is congratulated by his team in parc ferme as a course car is sent out to bring back Alonso from his celebrations out on track.

So di Resta gets pipped at the end and finishes seventh, with Button eighth, Perez ninth and Maldonado struggled home to 10th.

Alonso is clearly delighted by his win and has now pulled up in his Ferrari. The crowd are going nuts for the home winner.

Rosberg not only passed Button, but got di Resta at the line after gaining another two places when Maldonado and Hamilton tangled.

Meanwhile, Hamilton trudges back to the pits and isn't at all happy about a costly late retirement.

Rosberg was the man on the move at the end, making it up to sixth with great pace in the closing stages.

Webber ends up fourth in his Red Bull, ahead of Hulkenberg.

Schumacher cuts through the carnage to take his first podium since returning to action in 2010.

Raikonen grabs a brilliant second for Lotus

An incredible drive to a home win by the Spaniard, who fought his way through the field to be in the right place as others faltered.

Lap 57: Fernando Alonso wins the European Grand Prix!

Lap 57: Maldonado is down to seventh and is trying to get to the end without his front wing.

Lap 57: Webber again followed through and is into fourth place, with Hulkenberg fifth and di Resta in sixth spot.

Lap 57: Meanwhile, Alonso is on course for victory in Spain. Schumacher is up to third and Webber is right behind.

Lap 57: Schumacher passed Hulkenberg, then took advantage of the contact and now runs in a scarcely believable third.

Lap 57: Maldonado has lost his front wing and his podium chance is over after a brutal fight with Hamilton.

Lap 57: Maldonado is touring back to the pits with a damaged front wing.

Lap 57: There's inevitable contact between Hamilton and Maldonado and it's all over for the McLaren.

Lap 56: Rosberg sets another new fastest lap of the race in 11th - 1m42.163s. He is now on Button's gearbox, having chased down a 17 second deficit