Fernando Alonso led the German Grand Prix from pole position to chequered flag to win at Hockenheim and extended his lead at the top of the Formula One championship to 34 points.
"It was tough. Maybe we were not the fastest in dry conditions but we were competitive to retain the lead,'' Alonso said.
Germany's world champion Sebastian Vettel finished second for Red Bull, overtaking McLaren's Jenson Button on the
penultimate lap in a controversial move that stewards were investigating.
Vettel, who has yet to win his home grand prix and indeed any race in July, went wide and off the track to get past the
Briton.
Vettel's move was illegal, according to the stewards, who imposed a post-race drive-through penalty on the German, meaning 20 seconds have been added to his finishing time.
Alonso's win was Ferrari's 219th and the Spaniard's third of the season. The Ferrari driver now has 154 points to 120 for Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber, who finished eighth.
German Grand Prix 2012 race result.
1. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1h31:05.862
2. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, +6.949
3. Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus-Renault, +16.409
4. Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber-Ferrari, +21.925
5. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, +23.732
6. Sergio Perez, Sauber-Ferrari, +27.896
7. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, +28.960
8. Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault, +46.900
9. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India-Mercedes, +48.162
10. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, +48.889
11. Paul di Resta, Force India-Mercedes, +59.227
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, +1:11.428
13. Felipa Massa, Ferrari, +1:16.829
14. Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso-Ferrari, +1:16.965
15. Pastor Maldonado, Williams-Renault, +1 lap
16. Vitaly Petrov, Caterham-Renault, +1 lap
17. Bruno Senna, Williams-Renault, +1 lap
18. Romain Grosjean, Lotus-Renault, +1 lap
19. Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham-Renault, +2 laps
20. Charles Pic, Marussia-Cosworth, +2 laps
21. Pedro de la Rosa, HRT-Cosworth, +3 laps
22. Timo Glock, Marussia-Cosworth, +3 laps
23. Narain Karthikeyan, HRT-Cosworth, +3 laps
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Not classified/retirements:
Driver, Team, Retired on lap
Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, 58