Vettel claims early lead as British GP underway

Sebastian Vettel got the jump on Mark Webber at the start of the British Grand Prix to take his customary place at the head of the field at a damp Silverstone.

Webber failed to make the most of his eighth career pole position as his Red Bull team-mate found better grip off the line to lead into the first turn.

There were great starts for McLaren’s British drivers as Jenson Button passed Ferrari’s Felipe Massa to take fourth, while Lewis Hamilton was quickly up from 10th to seventh after passing three cars on the opening lap.

With all the drivers opting for the intermediate tyres after a rain shower in the hour before the race, there was plenty of action expected in the early laps, and Hamilton quickly provided it.

First, the 2008 world champion passed fellow Briton Paul di Resta of Force India for sixth, before overtaking Button – who also lost a place to Massa – to climb to fifth place by lap two.