Track Torque: Hamilton heroics at Hockenheim
It was one of the best races of Lewis Hamilton's already illustrious career.
After working hard for almost the entire race to get himself from14th position on the grid to the front, Lewis Hamilton made no mistakes in taking what was offered to him on a plate when Sebastian Vettel went off the road and into the barriers while leading.
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It was a case of good luck for Hamilton and bad luck for Vettel but such is motor racing. It tends to level out in the end.
Valtteri Bottas, who finished second for the Silver arrows just four and a half seconds behind Hamilton, was again asked to let Hamilton through which he did graciously.
One cannot help feeling sorry for Bottas.
Kimi Raikkonen drove well to be once again on the podium in third but also perhaps could have done a little better if luck had let him.
Max Verstappen drove the wheels off his Red Bull all weekend but just couldn’t do better than fourth position and desperately needs more power down the straights.
The rain that came at the end of the race was just a bit too late for the eager young ‘rain meister’.
Nico Hulkenberg is another very capable man in the wet and he showed his considerable talents on Sunday, finishing 19 seconds behind Verstappen in the very consistent Renault.
In sixth position was Romain Grosjean in the Haas Ferrari, just disappointing that teammate Kevin Magnussen couldn’t also make it in the points after a good run.
Seventh and eighth respectively were the two Force Indias of Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon.
Ninth and tenth respectively were Marcus Errisson in the Sauba Ferrari followed by Brendon Hartley in the Toro Rosso Honda.
Pierre Gasley, Charles Leclerc and Fernando Alonso, who are normally top 10 runners, were 14th, 15th and 16th, and Daniel Ricciardo’s car gave up on the 27th lap.
This weekend, after a short seven day break, the cars move across to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The track is more of an equaliser, with no fast straights, and I expect Red Bull to be more competitive with the circuit perhaps favouring Ferrari most.
Vettel may get his own back but one can never underestimate Hamilton.
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Or maybe it’ll be the turn of the ‘not so mad’ Max.
The race and qualifying time will both be at 3pm on Sunday and Saturday respectively.
Driver:
1 Lewis Hamilton 188 points; 2 Sebastian Vettel 171; 3 Kimi Raikkonen 131; 4 Valtteri Bottas 122; 5 Daniel Ricciardo 106; 6 Max Verstappen 105.
Team:
1 Mercedes 310; 2 Ferrari 302; 3 Red Bull 211.
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