F1: 4 Best races of Fernando Alonso's career

#4 European Grand Prix at Valencia, 2012

Fernando Alonso in a jubilant mood after his win at the European F1 Grand Prix, 2012

The 2012 Formula One Championship was hotly contested with a record 7 different drivers winning the first 7 races. Valencia was the venue of the 8th round of the season. Sebastian Vettel was the pole-sitter for Red Bull while Alonso started from 11th on the grid.

Sebastian Vettel was widely expected to clinch victory but things didn't pan out as he would have liked. Alonso had a terrific start as he swiftly gained 3 positions. What followed was a spree of successful overtaking ventures as he climbed to 4th.

Deployment of the Safety Car enabled Alonso to enter into the podium positions at 3rd. Soon after the race restart, Alonso made easy work of overtaking Romain Grosjean. The very same lap Vettel's car began to face some engine issues as Alonso took the lead. The crowd went into raptures as their own countryman had taken over the race lead.

Alonso remarkably took the chequered flag starting from 11th on the grid and has on numerous occasions described the race as his 'best ever'.