2010 European Grand Prix

2010 European Grand Prix
Race 9 of 19 in the 2010 Formula One World Championship ← Previous race Next race →
The Valencia Street Circuit
Race details[1][2]
Date	27 June 2010
Official name	2010 Formula 1 Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe
Location	Valencia Street Circuit, Valencia, Spain
Course	Temporary street circuit
Course length	5.419 km (3.367 miles)
Distance	57 laps, 308.883 km (191.931 miles)
Weather	Dry[3]
Pole position
Driver	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull-Renault
Time	1:37.587
Fastest lap
Driver	Jenson Button	McLaren-Mercedes
Time	1:38.766 on lap 54
Podium
First	Sebastian Vettel	Red Bull-Renault
Second	Lewis Hamilton	McLaren-Mercedes
Third	Jenson Button	McLaren-Mercedes
Lap leaders

The 2010 European Grand Prix (formally the 2010 Formula 1 Telefónica Grand Prix of Europe) was a Formula One motor race held on 27 June at the Valencia Street Circuit in Valencia, Spain. It was the ninth round of the 2010 Formula One World Championship. Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel won the 57-lap race from pole position. Lewis Hamilton finished second for the McLaren team and his teammate Jenson Button was third. It was Vettel's second win of the season, and the seventh of his Formula One career.

Vettel maintained his leading heading into the first corner and resisted Hamilton's attempts to pass him. The safety car was deployed following a large accident involving Vettel's teammate Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen on the ninth lap. Hamilton passed the safety car and was later issued with a drive-through penalty for which he served on lap 27. Vettel remained the leader at the restart despite running deep in the track's final corner. Hamilton drew closer to Vettel but he was unable to get close and Vettel maintained the lead for the remainder of the race to win.

As a consequence of the race, Hamilton extended his lead in the World Drivers' Championship to seven points ahead of Button. This ensured the pair would enter the next, and their home race – the British Grand Prix – as first and second in the championship. Vettel's victory elevated him to third; he was six points behind Button after surpassing the totals of teammate Mark Webber and Fernando Alonso. By gaining the most points from the race, McLaren extended their lead in the World Constructors' Championship to thirty over Red Bull.