Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen denied the sell-out Silverstone crowd the result they were yearning for by upstaging Lewis Hamilton and the McLarens for a perfectly judged victory in the British Grand Prix.
The home hero led the race’s early phase but fell back with a botched first pit stop, a handling imbalance and flat-spotted tyres, finally coming home a disappointed third behind team-mate Fernando Alonso.
Raikkonen kept within striking distance of Hamilton throughout the first stint and used a later pit stop to move ahead of the McLaren.
Alonso stopped later than both of them, however, and helped by a short-fill leapfrogged both Raikkonen and Hamilton to seize the lead.
Ferrari turned the tables at the second stops, however, as Kimi was able to stay out much longer than Fernando and lap a second quicker than his rival on a light fuel load.
Sure enough, Raikkonen emerged with a comfortable lead and controlled the race to the chequered flag.
Behind the top three, BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica staved off a fired-up Felipe Massa, who drove an inspired race after stalling on the grid and starting from the pit lane.
Nick Heidfeld came home sixth in the second BMW with Renault team-mates Heikki Kovalainen and Giancarlo Fisichella the final points finishers.
1. K.Raikkonen
2. F.Alonso
3. L.Hamilton