Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain celebrates after winning the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, central England, yesterday.

Spain's Fernando Alonso won the British Grand Prix yesterday for Ferrari's first victory of the season on the 60th anniversary of its first success in Formula One.

The win, gifted to him by Red Bull after world champion Sebastian Vettel was slowed by a wheelnut problem at his second pitstop, was the 27th of Alonso's career and lifted him level with the great Jackie Stewart in fifth position on the all-time list.

Australian Mark Webber, who had started on pole position, finished third for Red Bull after trying to pass his teammate on the penultimate lap and then being told to maintain his position.

"I had two laps today with that (1951) car before the parade," said Alonso of Argentine Jose Froilan Gonzalez's historic Ferrari.

"Now 60 years later in the same circuit, with the same atmosphere and the same passion, winning again. I'm very proud ... it made a special day."

Vettel had hoped to chalk up a seventh win in nine races but still extended his overall lead over Webber, last year's winner at Silverstone who has yet to lead a lap this season, to 80 points from a previous 77.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton entertained the fans by roaring from 10th on the grid to fourth, banging bodywork in a furious battle with Ferrari's Felipe Massa - who was forced wide - at the final corner.

Alonso took the lead on the 28th of the 52 laps when he pitted right behind Vettel, who had grabbed the lead off the grid. As the German's crew battled with the wheelgun, the Spaniard slipped past and was gone.

Pitstop drama

"It's hard to say how much we lost but surely we lost the lead. I think we had quite a cushion at that stage," said Vettel, who has still dropped only 21 points out of a possible 225, of the pitstop drama.

"I think you have to accept fair and square that Ferrari beat us today. I think it shows us that we have to keep working and pushing very hard."

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner recognized afterwards that "obviously Mark disagreed" with the order not to pass Vettel.

Massa finished fifth ahead of German Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes, Mexican Sergio Perez for Sauber and German Nick Heidfeld of Renault.

Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher came home ninth for Mercedes after a race wrecked by a collision with Japanese Kamui Kobayashi's Sauber - and a harsh 10-second stop-go penalty - and Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari was 10th for Toro Rosso.

McLaren's Jenson Button's home-race jinx continued with the 31-year-old's hopes also wrecked by a wheelgun when he was waved away before the right front nut had been secured 12 laps from the end.

With the wheel wobbling wildly, he parked up at the pit lane exit and walked back to the garages without speaking to reporters.

The Briton has never yet stood on the F1 podium at Silverstone in 12 attempts.

Button is fourth in the championship, tied on 109 points with teammate Hamilton.

In the constructors' championship, Red Bull now has 328 points ahead of McLaren on 218.