2012 German Grand Prix The German Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso continues his great summer run of podium finishes and claims another win to extend his championship lead.

His race was shaped with a brilliant start off the line. He left Vettel standing on one of the shortest runs to Turn 1 of the season, but it would be foolhardy to say he never looked back after that. The Spaniard was under all sorts of pressure during the race from the Red Bull driver and Jenson Button. Even the lapped Hamilton got in on the act during an entertaining middle segment.

Another great day for Ferrari, but Sauber will also be very pleased with a strong haul of points for Kobayashi and Perez, while Webber and Hulkenberg will reflect on what might have been. As for Hamilton, a poor start never got any better during the rest of the afternoon and he is falling away in the championship race.

This was the 2012 German Grand Prix on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for joining us over the last three days of action. We will be back next weekend with full coverage of the final race before the long summer break - the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Stick with AUTOSPORT for all the reaction from Germany, including news of that stewards' inquiry into Vettel's late move on Button.

Red Bull still has a sizable lead in the constructors' race over Ferrari, with McLaren taking third place back from Lotus after a better day

Raikkonen is now fourth in the standings, pipping Hamilton who had another disappointing afternoon.

Alonso's third win of the year puts him 34 points clear in the title race, with Webber now just two points above Vettel after a tough day.

Niki Lauda is on hand to interview the podium trio as the crowd spill onto the front stretch at Hockenheim.

Third place for Button - for the moment - but he will still be happy with a much-improved McLaren performance.

Sebastian Vettel receives his award for second place, to a huge cheer from the home fans.

Ferrari technical chief Pat Fry picks up the constructors' prize.

Fernando Alonso collects the winning trophy on another great day for the Spaniard.

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

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

Vettel tells Button he didn't know where he was as the pair continue to debate the move behind the podium.

A time penalty could be handed to Vettel if stewards decide that overtake on Button was outside the rules.

Hamilton did at least have some mid-race fun, mixing it with the leaders as he tried to unlap himself, before eventually retiring.

Lewis Hamilton was the only retirement of the race. His day started badly with a puncture and never really got any better after that.

Glock came back past Karthikeyan in the final few laps of the race to finish 22nd, leaving the Indian as the final finisher.

Senna crossed the line just 0.5s behind Petrov in 17th spot, with Grosjean 18th, Kovalainen 19th, Pic 20th and de la Rosa 21st.

Replays show Vettel was fully off the circuit as he used a wide line over the run-off to make his way past Button.

Out of the points, di Resta came home 11th ahead of Massa 12th, Ricciardo 13th, Vergne 14th, Maldonado 15th and Petrov 16th.

Alonso is delighted on the team radio - "that was fantastic again" he tells the crew.

Race control has announced an investigation into the move from Vettel on Button.

Michael Schumacher claims seventh in front of his home fans, with Webber eighth, Hulkenberg ninth and Rosberg gets the final point.

A strong fifth for Kobayashi, backed up by team-mate Perez in sixth on a fine day for Sauber.

Raikkonen finishes a distant fourth for Lotus, with spurts of pace but ultimately not enough to fight for the win.

Button ends up third after a fine drive in the upgraded McLaren, which does look to have much more competitive pace here.

Vettel grabs second place at the end from Button to take vital points on home soil.

Another commanding drive by the Spaniard, holding off pressure throughout to further build his championship lead.

Fernando Alonso wins the German Grand Prix!

Lap 67: Button complains to his team that Vettel completed his pass off the circuit.

Lap 66: Alonso heads into his final lap in the lead at Hockenheim.

Lap 66: Developing scrap for eighth in the final stages. Webber now has Hulkenberg 1.2s behind him, with Rosberg a further 1.8s back in 10th.

Lap 66: Vettel tries the DRS move on Button and makes it stick with some fine driving around the outside of the McLaren.

Lap 65: Down the order, Bruno Senna in 17th has caught Petrov, setting up a scrap with two laps to go.

Lap 65: Vettel continues to push Button while Alonso sprints away into the penultimate tour.

Lap 65: Alonso now leads by 2.4 seconds and looks on course for the win in Germany.

Lap 64: Alonso is stretching his lead now as Vettel begins to harry Button.

Lap 63: Schumacher is now 1.6 seconds behind Perez and edging up to the Sauber in a battle over sixth.

Lap 63: Five laps remain in Germany with just 2.7 seconds covering the top three.

Lap 62: Ricciardo is 12th ahead of Massa 13th, Vergne 14th, Maldonado 15th, Petrov 16th, Senna 17th, Grosjean 18th and Kovalainen in 19th spot.