German Grand Prix – race

Hamilton’s brake failure in Qualifying saw him in P16 but a 5 place penalty for changing the gearbox has him starting in P20, while his teammate is on pole.

Grid: ROS, BOT, MAS, MAG, RIC, VET, ALO, KVY, HUL, PER, BUT, RAI, VER, GRO, SUT, GUT*, BIA, MAL, KOB, HAM*, CHI
ERI will start from the pit lane after not setting a Quali time (because the team were busy rebuilding his car) and then a parc ferme transgression (the team failed to cover and seal his car) means he also has a 10 second stop-go penalty!
*GUT has a 3 grid spot penalty after Silverstone stewards decided he was “predominantly at fault” for an incident with MAL at the British Grand Prix.

(My GridBids picks: ROS, HAM, RAI, MAL, GRO, BUT)

Tyre choices are: prime = soft (yellow lettering); option = super-soft (red)
Weather is not as warm as yesterday; track is 20°C cooler than in Quali.

ROS leads everyone (except ERI) away on the formation lap
HAM starting on prime tyres, whereas everyone around him are on options

01/67: poor start from BIA
Contact in turn 1 – MAS is upside down!
Safety Car deployed
MAS out of his car – looks OK; walks away from his Williams
Radio from MAG – left front wheel damaged
Replay shows MAG clip the rear of MAS, they both spin as RIC goes around them

02[SC]: ROS, BOT, VET, ALO, HUL, BUT, KVY, PER, RAI, SUT
Lights off on the SC – in at the end of this lap

03: HAM up to P16
BUT attacking HUL

04: ROS fastest lap 1:22.320
HAM inside MAL
BUT still trying to get around HUL

05/67: HAM past GRO for P13

06: BBC report spots of rain in the pit lane
Race control: turn 1 incident under investigation

07: ROS f/lap 1:22.107
HAM closing on RIC, who in turn is closing on SUT
RIC inside SUT; HAM follows through but SUT nearly hits him

08: ROS 1:21.8
Turn 1 incident – no further action
Radio for RIC reminding him to use the overtake button to defend

09: KVY looking for a way around PER; KVY turns in, hits PER; KVY spins but recovers, heads for the pits

10/67: ROS, BOT, VET, ALO, HUL, BUT, PER, RAI, VER, RIC; retirement: MAS
RIC and HAM pass VER

11: HAM lining up RIC; inside but can’t complete the pass because RAI is just ahead
RIC defends HAM, then passes RAI for P8

12: HAM looks at a gap but RAI holds him off

13: ALO pits; prime tyres

15/67: slow pit stop for BUT
Getting very close between RAI, RIC and ALO; contact between RAI and RIC, and almost RAI & ALO

16: ROS pits, as does BOT

17: Radio from HAM asking if he has to save fuel; no, good on fuel
Radio for RIC giving him instructions to change gearbox settings

18: Radio for HAM – forecast P2 even if BOT overtakes

20/67: BOT takes P2 from HAM

21: RAI pits
KVY running a little wide as MAL pressures him for P15
PER trying hard to pass MAL

22: RAI easily past SUT for P13

23: Radio for PER – lift and coast; “it’s the last time I’m going to ask you”!

24: Turn 6 incident involving cars 8 and 25 under investigation – leaving the track and gaining an advantage

25/67: ROS, BOT, HAM, VET, ALO, HUL, BUT, RIC, MAG, VER
Radio for HAM asking him to go to “Menu magic position 1” – “I’ve never heard of that switch”! 🙂

26: RAI inside VER for P10
RAI passes MAG; MAG fights back but RAI takes P9

27: HAM pits from P3; more primes; rejoins P8

29: Radio for HUL – “chassis switch 2”; HUL says “it is already 2”; “move it to 1 and back to 2”
HAM easily past RIC for P7

30/67: ROS, BOT, VET, ALO, HUL, BUT, HAM, RIC, RAI, VER
HAM inside BUT – contact as BUT closes the door; damage to HAM’s front wing

31: HAM makes a clean pass on BUT this time

32: BUT pits
Radio from HAM asking if there’s anything to do about the front wing (because changing the nose takes a long time)

33: HAM lining up HUL
Half-distance
HAM safely past HUL for P5

34: BBC interview MAS; scarier to watch than being inside the car; disappointed not to finish again
ALO pits

35/67: ROS, BOT, VET, HAM, HUL
Radio from RAI – we have to stop, front left is completely gone
VET pits; options; rejoins just ahead of ALO
ALO attacking VET; takes P6

36: ALO f/lap 1:21.212

37: ROS, BOT, HAM, HUL, ALO, VET, BUT, RIC, VER, MAL

38: VET closes on ALO as the Ferrari looks for a way round HUL
ALO passes HUL; VET follows through

39: RIC f/lap 1:21.203

40: BOT pits from P2

42: ROS pits
Radio for VET – save a little fuel; “do you want me fast or safe?”

43: HAM pits; options – will they last to the end?
Radio for HAM – 13 lap stints… so he’s going to stop again
RIC attacking BUT but can’t make it stick

45/67: ROS, BOT, ALO, VET, HAM, BUT, RIC, HUL, MAG, RAI

46: VET pits; 3rd stop; primes
KVY pulls off track – big fire – he’s quickly out of the car
DRS disabled but no SC

49: KVY’s car cleared
Radio from HAM asking if his pace is good enough; yes
HAM passes ALO easily for P3, but HAM will stop again

50/67: SUT spins coming out of the final turn; has he stalled it?
HAM f/lap 1:20.255
SUT is out of his Sauber

51: HAM pits; new set of options
SUT’s car still stranded on the main straight – are they going to clear it?

52: Marshals get the order to move SUT’s car … and run across the track!
Pushing SUT’s car toward pit in

53: HAM is almost 3secs/lap quicker than ALO
Radio for BOT asking about tyres; it’ll be hard to push

54: RIC takes P7 from HUL, but HUL isn’t giving up
HAM f/lap 1:19.908

55/67: ROS, BOT, ALO, HAM, VET, BUT, RIC, HUL…
MAG, RAI both pit
PER passes RAI as the Ferrari leaves the pits
HAM takes P3

56: ALO pits – that’s a late stop; looks low on fuel too, with long lift+coast in the turns
RIC attacking BUT

57: RIC dives inside and takes P5
ALO now closing on BUT
ALO reclaims P6

58: HAM catching BOT; about 5sec behind the Williams but HAM is ~1.5sec/lap quicker

59: BOT under 3sec ahead of HAM
Radio for BOT – don’t race him hard, we have to get to the end
ALO attacks RIC; RIC fights back

60/67: ROS, BOT, HAM, VET, RIC, ALO, BUT, HUL, MAG, PER
ALO tries again to pass RIC
RIC continues to hold off ALO

61: ALO keeps harrying RIC; great racing
HAM on the rear wing of BOT
Radio for BOT – use overtake to defend, but have to get this tyre to the end

62: BBC report a few raindrops in the pit lane
HAM filling BOT’s mirrors
ALO passes RIC but runs a bit wide

63/67 = 5 laps left; ALO finally makes a pass stick for P5
HAM’s front left tyre looking badly grained

64: HAM struggling with his front left
Radio for RAI – rain in a minute or two, should be very light

65/67: ROS, BOT, HAM, VET, ALO, RIC, HUL, BUT, MAG, PER

66: Radio from HAM – he’s too quick in the straights
VET told to save more fuel

67 = final lap: ROS has a 20sec lead over BOT
HAM still trying to force BOT into a mistake
300th podium for Williams

ROS takes the chequered flag – the first German in a German car to win the German GP
BOT P2, with HAM right behind him

Provisional result: ROS, BOT, HAM, VET, ALO, RIC, HUL, BUT, MAG, PER; RAI, MAL, VER, GUT, BIA, KOB, CHI, ERI.
DNF: SUT, KVY, GRO, MAS