Silverstone: Adrian Sutil finished seventh after being in contention for a podium finish even as Paul di Resta fought his way to ninth after starting last on the grid in the incident-filled and dramatic British Grand Prix, here, on Sunday.

Sutil moved into the third position after beginning the race from sixth position but lost his way in the last six laps as Mark Webber, Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton overtook him. Nico Rosberg won the race while Webber and Alonso joined him on the podium in the second and third position respectively.

Nevertheless, it was third consecutive double points finish for Sahara Force India (59) as they collected eight points to increase their lead over sixth-placed McLaren by 12 points. “The start of the race was looking very good because we were always planning a two-stop strategy and I was up into fourth on lap one. It was a challenge to look after the tyres and keep them going, but the main problem for me was the second safety car because the cars around me chose to pit,” Sutil said.

“I stayed out and was third at the restart, but the cars behind with fresh rubber had a big advantage and were able to overtake me quite easily in the final few laps. It’s disappointing to slip back so close to the finish, but seventh place gives us some good points so we can be happy with the result,” he added.

Di Resta, who had qualified an impressive fifth, was forced to start from the last position after it was found that his car was underweight during Saturday’s qualifying. The stewards though allowed him to compete from last on the grid.

Sutil moved up two places to fourth in the very first lap when he passed Daniel Ricciardo and Webber suffered a front wing damage to his Red Bull and was pushed back.

Disaster struck Hamilton in the eighth lap as his Mercedes’ left rear tyre deflated. As a result Sebastian Vettel was now leading the race and Sutil moved up to third. Di Resta meanwhile had worked his way to 11th and Sutil was locked in a good battle with Alonso for third position

In lap 34 both Force India drivers pitted. Sutil re-joined in seventh position and Di Resta 14th.

With just 10 laps left in the race, Vettel, the race and the championship leader, had to park his Red Bull after suffering a gearbox failure. Safety car was deployed again and with seven laps to go, the race began with Sutil in third position.