Defending world champion Sebastian Vettel drove his Red Bull to a narrow and dramatic victory ahead of McLaren's Lewis Hamilton in the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 23-year-old German used his natural speed and clever strategy to steal the lead after starting second behind teammate Mark Webber, and resisted all that 2008 champion Hamilton could throw at him in the closing stages of the 66-lap contest.

After a thrilling duel, Vettel finished six-tenths of a second ahead of the 26-year-old Briton to reel off his fourth win in five races this season - his 13th career win - to extend his lead in the drivers' world championship.

It was the first time that a driver, who did not start from pole, had won the Spanish Grand Prix in 11 years.

Hamilton came home second ahead of his McLaren teammate and fellow Englishman Jenson Button who finished third ahead of Webber, who had started from pole, and fifth-placed two-time champion Fernando Alonso.

Spaniard Alonso gave his home crowd plenty to cheer about with a wonderful start and great charge for Ferrari in the early stages, but could not stay with the leaders in the second half of the 66-laps contest.

Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, 42, bounced back from his dismal race in Turkey by finishing sixth for Mercedes ahead of his teammate, German Nico Rosberg, another German Nick Heidfeld of Renault and the two Sauber drivers, Mexican Sergio Perez and Japanese Kamui Kobayashi.

Vettel now has 118 points and leads Hamilton, by 41 points, while in the constructors standings Red Bull has 185 points to McLaren on 138.

"A great drive Seb, fantastic, a brilliant job," said Red Bull team chief Christian Horner to Vettel on the slowing down lap. "Yabbadabbadoooo!" replied the driver, his youthful enthusiasm shining through.