It was a second place for Kimi Raikkonen at the European GP in Valencia today, but the team will no doubt have been left wondering what could have been as Grosjean was looking like a potential race winner until his alternator gave up 17 laps before the end of the race.

Grosjean started strongly, making his way from 5th to 3rd at the start. The Frenchman later found his way past Hamilton to take second, but some way behind leader Sebastian Vettel.

A safety car caused by contact between Kovalainen and Vergne closed that gap, but at the restart Alonso was able to make his way past the Lotus, and shortly afterwards the lead as Vettel’s car coasted to a halt. Grosjean looked like he might be able to take the fight for the lead back to the Spaniard, had it not been for his retirement.

Raikkonen on the other hand lost places early on, but battled cleanly through a crowded midfield to work his way up in to contention, but getting caught up behind Hamilton as he struggled with tyre wear. Although he eventually passed the McLaren he had lost too much time and tyre life to mount a series attack on Alonso and therefore had to settle for second place.

Discussion: SELOC Chat – F1 thread? – How much further up

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