Sebastian Vettel in control in Valencia

Sebastian Vettel has returned to the top step of the Formula One podium in Valencia, winning his second consecutive European Grand Prix.

The German controlled the 57 lap race from pole position, eventually beating home local hero Fernando Alonso by 10.8s.

Mark Webber was third after falling back in the closing stages with a gearbox problem.

Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg, Jaime Alguersuari, Adrian Sutil and Nick Heidfeld rounded out the top 10.

Webber had been lucky to hold onto his second place grid position at the first corner, with a fast-starting Felipe Massa backing out of an inside move at the last moment.

Alonso took advantage of the situation to pass his team-mate around the outside, before beginning a race long duel with Webber.

The Australian gained ground on his team-mate by pitting slightly earlier during the first two of three pitstops, but lost second to Alonso on the race track on Lap 21.

Webber then took back the position by making his second stop one lap earlier than the Spaniard, before losing it again on the third and final round of stops having struggled to get front-tyre temperature in the medium compound rubber.

It was a difficult race for McLaren, with Lewis Hamilton kicking off all three pitstop cycles, to the detriment of his long run pace.

The 2008 World Champion was still able to beat Massa home by 5.5s, with the Brazilian’s chances of taking the position late in the race dashed by a left-rear wheel issue at his final pitstop.

Jenson Button lost 12s to race leader Vettel in the first six laps alone after slipping behind the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg in the opening corners, and fell further behind the top five late in the going thanks to a KERS issue.

Alguersuari’s second consecutive points finish came courtesy of a two-stop strategy – the ‘other’ local hero the only top 10 finisher not to choose a three-stop.

Sergio Perez was 11th after undertaking an even more ambitious one-stop strategy, eventually missing the points by less than seven seconds.

Michael Schumacher’s race was dashed when he made contact with the Renault of Vitaly Petrov at the first corner after his first pitstop – the incident requiring a new front-wing.

All 24 starters finished the race – the most ever finishers in a Formula One Grand Prix.

See below for the full race result

See below for the championship points after eight races