Alonso loved Ricciardo tussle

For a second race in succession Fernando Alonso did his best to steal the limelight from former team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

At Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton enjoyed a stunning drive for Mercedes driving from sixth on the grid to take the victory in front of his home supporters.

Whilst Hamilton had made and created many of the highlights for that race the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso and the Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel attempted to pinch some of the headlines with their fantastic wheel-to-wheel battle which resulted in Vettel coming out on top.

In Germany all eyes were on Hamilton once again having to battle through the grid from 20th to 3rd, but as in Silverstone, a wheel-to-wheel battle between Alonso and a Red Bull Racing car threatened to pinch the spotlight.

This time it was the Australian of Daniel Ricciardo.

The beaming Aussie spoke fondly of the race action after the Grand Prix had ended and two-time Formula One World Champion Alonso was quick to sing his praises post-race.

?Daniel is a surprise from Australia, I think he?s doing unbelievable; I think he?s seven-three [in qualifying] in the first ten races with Sebastian [Vettel], so it?s something we probably didn?t suspect. he told Sky Sports.

?He?s driving fantastically and today he was battling very smart ? always taking the slipstream of me after I pass him and braking very late, attacking very late and never missing a corner.

?He was very, very smart, very respectful with the rules and it was a great fight.?

?For the last stint I was saving fuel but I was battling with Ricciardo, so for some laps you have to decide to give up the position and cross the line or fight with Ricciardo and be on the limit to cross the line,?

?I decide to fight with Ricciardo, be in the position and then I will try to manage the fuel as good as I can.

Despite Ricciardo’s best efforts on the final lap, Alonso held on to fifth place with Ricciardo finishing sixth.

?On the last lap, I had to save fuel massively and I was in eighth gear all lap and it was lucky that there was not 100 metres more.?