Lewis Hamilton may have missed out on a tenth straight podium, but McLaren's Fernando Alonso has won the German GP after stunning drive that saw him beat not only the worst conditions an F1 driver can face, but also the increasingly dominant Ferraris.

Another littler reminder then why Alonso is a World Champion.

The race started in dry conditions, but then a Biblical rain shower on the first lap saw everyone dive in the pits for wet tyres.

Pole-sitter Raikkonen was first in, but slid across the pit-lane entry and had to rejoin the track for another lap. The mistake left the Finn a lap down.

Meanwhile Jenson Button had leapt up from 17th to third, but then became one of the first to aquaplane off as the track flooded.

Sutil, Speed and Hamilton all joined him in the turn one gravel, as did Liuzzi whose Toro Rosso nearly slid into crane.

Hamilton kept his head (and his McLaren's engine at tickover) and was placed neatly back on the track by the crane, by which time the timing screens reported the incredible fact that Markus Winkelhock was leading on his debut.

Starting last from the pit-lane Winkelhock's Spyker team had cleverly fitted wets on the young German's car, pre-empting the shower.

The race was soon red flagged after a number of incidents on track. Half an hour later the European GP resumed under the safety car with Massa and Alonso duelling for the lead. Winkelhock's moment of glory soon faded as the established names swept by.

Massa's Ferrari asserted itself in the lead, while Kimi managed to charge up to third. It was looking good for the Kim-ster until his Ferrari uncharacteristically failed on lap 35, handing third to Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Then, with 10 laps to go, the rain returned and after the pair pitted for wet tyres Alonso and Massa duelled it out for the lead.

After some stunning driving from both, Alonso squeezed past Massa for the lead on the 56th lap.

They touched, briefly, but it was a close and fair battle despite some post-race whinging from Alonso.

Webber held on for a great third place, with Wurz's Williams fourth, and Coulthard scoring a strong fifth.

Had they not crashed into each other early on the first lap, the sixth and seventh place BMW Saubers could have finished on the podium.

And Hamilton? A tough GP for the rookie that ended his 9-race podium run.

Tenth in qualifying after that huge crash left him on the back foot, but a typically fighty drive saw him drive back into points contention.

But some poor tyre choices during the wet/dry conditions, and the trip to the gravel on the second lap, effectively ruined his race.

He didn't quit however, and drove aggressively to chase a point that was ultimately too much for the McLaren newbie.

With Kimi and Lewis non-scoring, only two points separate the two McLarens at the top of the Championship.

Ferrari will be scratching their heads - their car is the fastest, but they are now 27 points behind McLaren in the constructor's championship.

Nick Trott

European Grand Prix result

1 Alonso McLaren 2:06:26.358
2 Massa Ferrari +8.155
3 Webber Red Bull +1:05.674
4 Wurz Williams +1:05.937
5 Coulthard Red Bull +1:13.656
7 Heidfeld BMW +1:20.298
8 Kubica BMW +1:22.415