European Grand Prix 2010 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Sebastian Vettel bounced back from his Turkish disaster with a dominant victory at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, converting pole position into a commanding win that reignited his championship challenge. The young German controlled the race from start to finish on the challenging Valencia Street Circuit, holding off Lewis Hamilton's McLaren to claim his second victory of the season and demonstrate that Red Bull's pace advantage remained intact despite their recent reliability and team harmony issues.

Vettel's pole lap of 1:37.587 gave him the crucial track position on Valencia's narrow, unforgiving street circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult. The German made a perfect start and immediately pulled away from the chasing pack, managing his pace expertly while navigating the concrete walls that lined the harbor-side circuit. His victory was particularly satisfying after the Turkish collision with Webber, proving he could deliver under pressure and reminding the F1 world of his exceptional talent. The RB6's superior downforce and mechanical grip proved ideally suited to Valencia's tight corners and bumpy surface.

Hamilton drove a strong race to finish second, pushing Vettel throughout but unable to find a way past the perfectly positioned Red Bull. Button completed the podium in third place, ensuring McLaren scored solid points. Webber could only manage fourth after struggling for pace, suggesting the Turkish incident had affected Red Bull's internal dynamics. The race was marked by several safety car periods typical of street circuits, bunching up the field and creating strategic challenges. Vettel's victory narrowed the championship gap and established him as a genuine title contender alongside Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, and Button - five drivers separated by just 24 points with half the season remaining, promising one of the closest championship battles in F1 history.