The Ferrari driver timed one hour, 44 minutes and 16.649 seconds to win the race, 6.421 seconds faster than Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus. Michael Schumacher finished third, followed by Red Bull's Mark Webber.

Alonso had a big chunk of good fortune after Sebastian Vettel, who was runaway leader at the time, was forced to retire with technical problems, while Romain Groasjean, who had started on the second row of the grid, was forced out of the race after losing his gears.

Nevertheless, credit must be given to Alonso, who had started in 11th place and had said after Saturday's qualifying race that he had no chance of making the podium, for some brave and decisive riding.

He was also helped by his team's strategy and rapid work in the pits, the opposite of what happened to one of his main rivals, Lewis Hamilton, who was hampered by a slow tyre chance.

Hamilton looked to be heading to a third place finish behind Raikkonen, but was involved in a spectacular collision with Pastor Maldonado, who rammed into him in the second from last lap after trying to force his way in from off the circuit.

Hamilton's exit allowed Schumacher to take his first podium finish after coming back from retirement in 2010.

Elsewhere Webber produced a solid drive to finish fourth after starting 19th, while Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg finished fifth with team-mate Paul di Resta seventh.

The Valencia grand prix has usually been criticized for being dull, but what looks like being the last edition of the race, produced more than its share of excitement.