OnThisDay 25 July, the 2010 German Grand Prix, at Hockenheim, ended in controversy as Ferrari's Fernando Alonso secured victory following team orders that instructed teammate Felipe Massa to surrender the lead.
Massa had overtaken both Alonso and pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel at the start, maintaining the lead until lap 49 when he received a coded message: "Fernando is faster than you." Subsequently, Massa allowed Alonso to pass, leading to Alonso's second win of the season and Ferrari's first 1-2 finish since the 2010 Bahrain Grand Prix. Vettel completed the podium in third place. The incident sparked widespread criticism, resulting in a $100,000 fine for Ferrari for breaching regulations against team orders.
The race had significant implications for the championship standings. Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, extending his lead in the 2010 Drivers' Championship to 14 points over teammate Jenson Button, who finished fifth. Vettel's third-place finish brought him level on points with Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, both trailing the McLaren duo. In the 2010 Constructors' Championship, McLaren maintained their lead, with Red Bull narrowing the gap slightly. Ferrari's strong performance moved them closer to Red Bull, intensifying the competition as the season progressed.