The German Grand Prix - in pictures

The German fans are out in their droves today. They'll be cheering for any of six home-grown drivers: Michael Schumacher, Nick Heidfeld, Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock and, of course, the championship leader Sebastian Vettel Photograph: Vladimir Rys Photography/Getty Images

Shame about the weather prospects today though Photograph: Vladimir Rys Photography/Getty Images

Mark Webber spurns yet another pole position with a sluggish start, allowing Lewis Hamilton to race past him into turn one. Felipe Massa makes a flying start from fifth, but his line on the outside is blocked by the ensuing scrap between Vettel and Fernando Alonso Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

The duel between Vettel and Alonso continues for the first eight laps. Alonso loses track position after catching his tyres on the wet carpet flanking the track, but he then regains third spot with a bold overtaking manoeuvre without the aid of DRS Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Vettel suffers a similar blip by catching his tyres on the wet carpet and spins his car 180 degrees, but he keeps the engine running and rejoins the action. And he's not the only German struggling. Schumacher suffers an identical spin and Heidfeld is flung into the air after being tagged by Sebastien Buemi It's a spectacular crash for Heidfeld but fortunately he's unhurt. Photograph: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Hamilton, meanwhile, is toiling with Webber for the lead. Hamilton runs wide allowing the Australian to sneak past, but the Brit uses the drag down the subsequent straight to surge back in front Photograph: Valdrin Xhemaj/EPA

Alonso's prospects are looking good. His car is handling well under breaking Photograph: EPA

But Jenson Button is forced to retire with a hydraulics problem soon after climbing into contention Photograph: Srdjan Suki/EPA

After a series of pit-stops, Hamilton finds himself behind Alonso ... Photograph: Reuters

... but the 2008 world champion drives clean around the Spaniard on a long left-hander to resume control of the race and set up a vital victory Photograph: Vladimir Rys Photography/Getty Images

Behind them, Vettel and Massa are battling for fourth. The two must both pit before the final lap to use up the regulation tyres. Massa dives in first, followed instantly by Vettel. But it's the Red Bull pit-crew who have released their man first allowing Vetel to jump his rival in the pit-lane Photograph: Vladimir Rys Photography/Getty Images

Hamilton celebrates his victory with his engineers Photograph: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images

Alonso has to catch a ride back to parc ferme on Webber's car after his Ferrari ran out of fuel Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Hamilton clasps his hands after a thrilling win which lifts him to third in the championship standings, though he's still 82 points behind Vettel and five behind Webber Photograph: Crispin Thruston/Action Images