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Nurburgring - Sebastian Vettel extended his lead in this year's drivers' championship when he finally won on home soil on Sunday.
But the defending triple world champion had to survive several spells of intense pressure to steer his Red Bull to victory in the German Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old German, who also had never won a race in the month of July, came home narrowly ahead of fast-closing Finn Kimi Raikkonen and his Lotus team-mate Romain Grosjean of France.
Vettel's win was his fourth this year and the 30th of his career and it lifted him 34 points clear of nearest rival, Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, in the drivers' championship.
"It's unbelievable," said Vettel. "Kimi was pushing very close in the end, but I was pushing in every lap except from the ones with the safety car.
"I enjoyed today and I could feel Kimi coming and it was quite close with Romain too, but we recovered and I am very happy the race ended after 60 laps -- and not 61 or 62 laps."
Vettel's win means that in the constructors' series, Red Bull lead with 250 ahead of Mercedes on 183.
Raikkonen, who closed within a second of Vettel at the end as he stretched his record run of points-scoring races to 26, said: "My radio only worked in one part of the circuit and unfortunately today there was quite a lot to discuss."
Grosjean, who finished third to grab his first podium finish in five races, said: "It's good, it is a good result for the team. I thought I had a good chance, but Sebastian drove very well.
"The team took the decision to put us on different tyres and it worked out in the end."
Alonso came home fourth ahead of Britons Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Jenson Button of McLaren with Australian Mark Webber seventh in the second Red Bull.
Hamilton started from pole, but fell back and struggled with his tyres before fighting back in the closing stages with some fine passing moves.
"I have nothing positive to say about these tyres," said Hamilton.
"I don't understand why we struggle so much on them, but the team is working hard and we need to keep pushing.
"I felt I was having such a difficult time and I wanted to know if Nico wasn't having a problem then it must be something with my driving or my set-up.
"But it turned out it wasn't. We didn't have any blowouts this weekend -- but I don't particularly like the tyres."
Mexican Sergio Perez finished eighth for McLaren ahead of Germans Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes and Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber.
Vettel became the first German to win a German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in the history of the Formula One world championship.
"The Briton has been kept there, under observation. Further information from the hospital will be provided as soon as it becomes available."
On his victory lap, Vettel screeched: "Woo-hooh! Thanks guys, that was a tough race -- they really gave me a run for my money."
He was right, but it may be a different story again at the next contest, the Hungarian Grand Prix, on July 28.
Results from the German Formula One Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on Sunday:
1. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull) 1hr 41min 14.711sec
2. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Lotus) at 1.008
3. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus) 5.830
4. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari) 7.721
5. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 26.927
6. Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren Mercedes) 27.996
7. Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull) 37.562
8. Sergio Perez (MEX/McLaren Mercedes) 38.306
9. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes) 46.821
10. Nico Hlkenberg (GER/Sauber) 49.892
11. Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India) 53.771
12. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Scuderia Toro Rosso) 56.975
13. Adrian Sutil (GER/Force India) 57.738
14. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/Sauber) 1:00.160
15. Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams) 1:01.929
16. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams) at 1 lap
17. Charles Pic (FRA/Caterham) 1 lap
18. Giedo van der Garde (NED/Caterham) 1 lap
19. Max Chilton (GBR/Marussia) 1 lap.
Retired: Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari): 4th lap; Jules Bianchi (FRA/Marussia): 22th lap; Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso): 23th lap
Formula One world championship standings after Sunday's German Grand Prix:
Drivers:
1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 132.0 pts,
2. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 111.0
3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 98.0
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 89.0
5. Mark Webber (AUS) 87.0
6. Nico Rosberg (GER) 82.0
7. Felipe Massa (BRA) 57.0
8. Paul di Resta (GBR) 36.0
9. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 26.0
10. Jenson Button (GBR) 25.0
11. Adrian Sutil (GER) 23.0
12. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) 13.0
13. Sergio Perez (MEX) 12.0
14. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 11.0
15. Nico Hlkenberg (GER) 6.0
Constructors:
1. Red Bull 219.0pts
2. Mercedes 171.0
3. Ferrari 168.0
4. Lotus 124.0
5. Force India 59.0
6. McLaren Mercedes 37.0
7. Toro Rosso 24.0
8. Sauber 6.0
But the defending triple world champion had to survive several spells of intense pressure to steer his Red Bull to victory in the German Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old German, who also had never won a race in the month of July, came home narrowly ahead of fast-closing Finn Kimi Raikkonen and his Lotus team-mate Romain Grosjean of France.
Vettel's win was his fourth this year and the 30th of his career and it lifted him 34 points clear of nearest rival, Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, in the drivers' championship.
"It's unbelievable," said Vettel. "Kimi was pushing very close in the end, but I was pushing in every lap except from the ones with the safety car.
"I enjoyed today and I could feel Kimi coming and it was quite close with Romain too, but we recovered and I am very happy the race ended after 60 laps -- and not 61 or 62 laps."
Vettel's win means that in the constructors' series, Red Bull lead with 250 ahead of Mercedes on 183.
Raikkonen, who closed within a second of Vettel at the end as he stretched his record run of points-scoring races to 26, said: "My radio only worked in one part of the circuit and unfortunately today there was quite a lot to discuss."
Grosjean, who finished third to grab his first podium finish in five races, said: "It's good, it is a good result for the team. I thought I had a good chance, but Sebastian drove very well.
"The team took the decision to put us on different tyres and it worked out in the end."
Alonso came home fourth ahead of Britons Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Jenson Button of McLaren with Australian Mark Webber seventh in the second Red Bull.
Hamilton started from pole, but fell back and struggled with his tyres before fighting back in the closing stages with some fine passing moves.
"I have nothing positive to say about these tyres," said Hamilton.
"I don't understand why we struggle so much on them, but the team is working hard and we need to keep pushing.
"I felt I was having such a difficult time and I wanted to know if Nico wasn't having a problem then it must be something with my driving or my set-up.
"But it turned out it wasn't. We didn't have any blowouts this weekend -- but I don't particularly like the tyres."
Mexican Sergio Perez finished eighth for McLaren ahead of Germans Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes and Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber.
Vettel became the first German to win a German Grand Prix at the Nurburgring in the history of the Formula One world championship.
After the drama of four exploding tyre blowouts in last Sunday's British Grand Prix, the race was run without similar incidents other than when a stray wheel from Mark Webber's Red Bull injured camera man, Paul Allen in the pitlane, Jules Bianchi's car momentarily caught fire and rolled towards traffic after the driver had got out while Paul Di Resta almost hit Jean-Eric Vergne in the pits.
Allen was taken to the circuit medical centre, but later said to be bruised and shocked, but not seriously injured.
"The Briton has been kept there, under observation. Further information from the hospital will be provided as soon as it becomes available."
On his victory lap, Vettel screeched: "Woo-hooh! Thanks guys, that was a tough race -- they really gave me a run for my money."
He was right, but it may be a different story again at the next contest, the Hungarian Grand Prix, on July 28.
Results from the German Formula One Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on Sunday:
1. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Red Bull) 1hr 41min 14.711sec
2. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Lotus) at 1.008
3. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus) 5.830
4. Fernando Alonso (ESP/Ferrari) 7.721
5. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 26.927
6. Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren Mercedes) 27.996
7. Mark Webber (AUS/Red Bull) 37.562
8. Sergio Perez (MEX/McLaren Mercedes) 38.306
9. Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes) 46.821
10. Nico Hlkenberg (GER/Sauber) 49.892
11. Paul di Resta (GBR/Force India) 53.771
12. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Scuderia Toro Rosso) 56.975
13. Adrian Sutil (GER/Force India) 57.738
14. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX/Sauber) 1:00.160
15. Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Williams) 1:01.929
16. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams) at 1 lap
17. Charles Pic (FRA/Caterham) 1 lap
18. Giedo van der Garde (NED/Caterham) 1 lap
19. Max Chilton (GBR/Marussia) 1 lap.
Retired: Felipe Massa (BRA/Ferrari): 4th lap; Jules Bianchi (FRA/Marussia): 22th lap; Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA/Toro Rosso): 23th lap
Formula One world championship standings after Sunday's German Grand Prix:
Drivers:
1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 132.0 pts,
2. Fernando Alonso (ESP) 111.0
3. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 98.0
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 89.0
5. Mark Webber (AUS) 87.0
6. Nico Rosberg (GER) 82.0
7. Felipe Massa (BRA) 57.0
8. Paul di Resta (GBR) 36.0
9. Romain Grosjean (FRA) 26.0
10. Jenson Button (GBR) 25.0
11. Adrian Sutil (GER) 23.0
12. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) 13.0
13. Sergio Perez (MEX) 12.0
14. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 11.0
15. Nico Hlkenberg (GER) 6.0
Constructors:
1. Red Bull 219.0pts
2. Mercedes 171.0
3. Ferrari 168.0
4. Lotus 124.0
5. Force India 59.0
6. McLaren Mercedes 37.0
7. Toro Rosso 24.0
8. Sauber 6.0
