SILVERSTONE, England: Rising German star Sebastian Vettel maintained his challenge in this year's drivers' world championship yesterday when he cruised to a comfortable victory in the British Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old tyro finished 15.188 secs ahead of Red Bull teammate Mark Webber to prove that the much-improved Milton Keynes-based team have the potential to challenge in the second half of the season.

Vettel started from the fourth pole of his career and was never challenged as he pulled clear from the start and delivered a perfectly judged drive to secure the third win of his brief career - and his first in dry weather.