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Lewis Hamilton wins F1 German GP after Sebastian Vettel crashes

Lewis Hamilton took victory in a sensational Formula 1 German Grand Prix while his title-rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out as a rain storm struck the Hockenheim circuit

Vettel led for the majority of the race from pole position, but slithered out of contention from the lead, on lap 52 of the 67 race. The German hit his steering wheel in frustration at the mistake of crashing into the Turn 13 barriers.

Hamilton started 14th and took advantage of the downpour that soaked the circuit in the latter stages that caught-out a number of slick-shod drivers - including Vettel - and which led to the safety car to be deployed.

In the chaos, there was an instant reversal of fortune as a Ferrari 1-2 became a Mercedes 1-2 during the rain shower.

All race, teams were constantly trying to second guess the conditions and most drivers stayed out on dry-weather tyres while the storm passed and the circuit began to quickly dry up.

Bottas finished in second, but had an attempt at overtaking his team-mate when the safety car period ended on lap 57.

The Finn got alongside Hamilton at the Turn 6 hairpin, but Hamilton was just able to retain the lead. Moments later, Bottas was instructed to hold position.

Kimi Raikkonen took third place, ahead of Max Verstappen's Red Bull. The Dutchman was one of the drivers to gamble on intermediate tyres when the rain started to fall in just one section of the track.

Two laps later, Verstappen returned back to the pits for dry tyres - the gamble failed - but then the whole circuit was doused, leading to Vettel's accident and the safety car's deployment.

Nico Hulkenberg was fifth for Renault, ahead of Romain Grosjean's Haas and the two Force Indias. Sauber's Marcus Ericsson and Brendon Hartley both benefitted from the chaotic conditions to scoop the final points-finishing positions.

At the start, Vettel led away from Bottas, Raikkonen and Verstappen and was comfortably in control of his home race. By lap 25, Vettel held a five second lead over Bottas when he came in to pit from ultra tyres to softs.

His Ferrari team-mate Raikkonen was the first of the front-runners to pit on lap 14 and once the first stops were over, the Finn held a slim lead over Vettel.

But the German was on tyres that were 11 laps fresher and Raikkonen was instructed by engineering director Jock Clear to led Vettel past.

Hamilton started on the soft tyre and made swift progress in the early laps to make his way through the field. After starting 14th, he was up to seventh by lap eight.

It was a remarkable comeback drive that has significant implications in the championship battle, as Hamilton retakes the number one spot.

German Grand Prix result

Pos Driver Car Laps Gap
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 67 1h32m29.845s
2 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 67 4.535s
3 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 67 6.732s
4 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Renault 67 7.654s
5 Nico Hulkenberg Renault 67 26.609s
6 Romain Grosjean Haas/Ferrari 67 28.871s
7 Sergio Perez Force India/Mercedes 67 30.556s
8 Esteban Ocon Force India/Mercedes 67 31.750s
9 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 67 32.362s
10 Brendon Hartley Toro Rosso/Honda 67 34.197s
11 Kevin Magnussen Haas/Ferrari 67 34.919s
12 Carlos Sainz Jr. Renault 67 43.069s
13 Stoffel Vandoorne McLaren/Renault 67 46.617s
14 Pierre Gasly Toro Rosso/Honda 66 1 Lap
15 Charles Leclerc Sauber/Ferrari 66 1 Lap
16 Fernando Alonso McLaren/Renault 65 Gearbox
- Lance Stroll Williams/Mercedes 53 Brakes
- Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 51 Spun off
- Sergey Sirotkin Williams/Mercedes 51 Oil leak
- Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 27 Power Unit

Drivers' standings

Pos Driver Points
1 Lewis Hamilton 188
2 Sebastian Vettel 171
3 Kimi Raikkonen 131
4 Valtteri Bottas 122
5 Daniel Ricciardo 106
6 Max Verstappen 105
7 Nico Hulkenberg 52
8 Fernando Alonso 40
9 Kevin Magnussen 39
10 Sergio Perez 30
11 Esteban Ocon 29
12 Carlos Sainz Jr. 28
13 Romain Grosjean 20
14 Pierre Gasly 18
15 Charles Leclerc 13
16 Stoffel Vandoorne 8
17 Marcus Ericsson 5
18 Lance Stroll 4
19 Brendon Hartley 2
20 Sergey Sirotkin 0

Constructors' standings

Pos Constructor Points
1 Mercedes 310
2 Ferrari 302
3 Red Bull/Renault 211
4 Renault 80
5 Force India/Mercedes 59
6 Haas/Ferrari 59
7 McLaren/Renault 48
8 Toro Rosso/Honda 20
9 Sauber/Ferrari 18
10 Williams/Mercedes 4


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