German GP: Race - RE-CAP & RESULTS

GERMAN GP - RACE - RE-CAP & RESULTS

    Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton reclaimed the title lead with victory at the German Grand Prix after Sebastian Vettel crashed out of the lead in changing conditions.

    Vettel led the majority of the first half of the race while Hamilton climbed up from 14th on the grid. The German briefly fell behind Kimi Raikkonen – who was running a two stop strategy -  but Ferrari ordered Raikkonen to let his team-mate past.

    Meanwhile, Hamilton had climbed up to third with an extra long first stint. Mercedes was banking on rain, planning on putting Hamilton straight on Intermediate tyres, but Hamilton was struggling on the soft tyres and was forced to pit.

    Moments later, the rain came and a number of mid-field drivers came into the pits for Intermediate tyres. Red Bull opted to gamble and call Max Verstappen in from fifth, putting him on the green walled Pirellis. The grooved tyres only lasted a few laps before the rain began to clear and those who had taken the gamble returned to the pits for new slicks. Verstappen remained fifth, but put himself out of the battle at the sharp end of the field.

    Conditions were still treacherous, with a number of drivers including Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez spinning on the wet track.

    Vettel was beginning to settle in the lead of the race when he pushed a little too hard, sending his Ferrari through the gravel and into the wall. It brought an end to the German’s race – and his lead at the top of the points standings – and brought out the safety car.

    Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas both came into the pits for fresh tyres. Hamilton, who had now been promoted to third, was initially called into the pits, but was told as he pulled into the pit lane to stay out. The Mercedes was forced to cut across the grass to rejoin the track, prompting a reprimand from the stewards.

    Hamilton led Bottas and Raikkonen behind the safety car. On the restart, Hamilton struggled with cooler tyres and Bottas was able to challenge his team-mate. The pair ran side by side for a number of corners before Hamilton was able to get heat into his tyres and escape up the road while Bottas was told to hold position.

    Raikkonen was unable to challenge Bottas in the closing stages of the race and finished third, ahead of Verstappen.

    Verstappen’s team-mate Daniel Ricciardo suffered another DNF after starting from the back of the grid due to an engine change. He’d been enjoying a strong drive up through the field when he stopped at the side of the field with a power unit problem.

    Nico Hulkenberg finished fifth after battling with Romain Grosjean, Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon.

    Marcus Ericsson took his third points finish of the season in ninth, ahead of Brendon Hartley.

    Carlos Sainz took the chequered flag 10th, but was handed a 10 second penalty for overtaking under safety car conditions and dropped back to 12th, behind Kevin Magnussen, on the corrected times.

    Stoffel Vandoorne, Pierre Gasly, and Charles Leclerc were the last of the finishers.

RESULTS: 

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points
2. Valtteri Bottas / Mercedes-Mercedes / Finland / + 18 Points
3. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 15 Points
4. Max Verstappen / Red Bull Racing-TAG-Heuer / Netherlands / + 12 Points
5. Nico Hulkenberg / Renault-Renault / Germany / + 10 Points
6. Romain Grosjean / Haas-Ferrari / France / + 8 Points 
7. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 6 Points
8. Esteban Ocon / Force India-Mercedes / France / + 4 Points
9.  Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden / + 2 Points
10.  Brendon Hartley / Scuderia Toro Rosso-Honda / New Zealand / + 1 Point
11. Kevin Magnussen / Haas-Ferrari / Denmark
12. Carlos Sainz / Renault-Renault / Spain
13. Stoffel Vandoorne / McLaren-Renault / Belgium 
14. Pierre Gasly / Scuderia Toro Rosso-Honda / France
15. Charles Leclerc / Sauber-Ferrari / Monaco

RETIRED - Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Renault / Spain / Gearbox
RETIRED - Lance Stroll / Williams-Mercedes / Canada / Brakes
RETIRED - Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany / Spun off
RETIRED - Sergey Sirotkin / Williams-Mercedes / Russia / Oil leak
RETIRED - Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull Racing-TAG-Heuer / Australia / Power Unit

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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