Webber crash keeps Vettel out in front

Mark Webber's spectacular exit from the European Grand Prix left Sebastian Vettel untroubled at the head of the Castrol Rankings and dropped him behind Lewis Hamilton.

Following an early pitstop, Webber hit the back of Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus, launching his Red Bull into a barrel roll and eventually into the barriers.

Mercifully the Australian emerged unscathed. However, as he failed to match his second place in the corresponding race last year, his score dropped significantly.

Webber's exit eased the pressure on his Red Bull team-mate Vettel, who won the race from pole and remained in the number one position in the Castrol Rankings for a 13th straight week.

Hamilton, who finished second despite serving a drive-through penalty, is now right on Vettel's tail in the battle for the number one spot.

The events of the Valencia race have also elevated Great Britain back to the top spot in the Castrol Nations Rankings. Australia and Germany lie second and third.

Fernando Alonso's race may have been ruined by the safety car, but the Ferrari driver's eighth place did at least move him ahead of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and into 11th in the Castrol Rankings.

Like his team-mate Alonso, Felipe Massa (54) lost out during the safety car period and finished 11th. That dropped him six places.

Jarno Trulli (58) too, was a major loser, the Lotus man's early retirement dropping him 13 places and causing him to lose his status as Italy's highest-ranked driver to World Touring Car Champion Gabriele Tarquini.

Robert Kubica (14) continued his superb season, the Renault driver claiming yet another points finish and moving up three places - the biggest jump in the top 20.

And, of course, Michael Schumacher (107) continued his rise up through the Castrol Rankings, the seven-time World Champion up 14 places and virtually certain to make it into the top 100 after the British Grand Prix.