German Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton wins after Sebastian Vettel crashes out - F1 News

F1 News - German Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton wins after Sebastian Vettel crashes out

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Vettel's stricken Ferrari is cleared from the gravel trap

Lewis Hamilton took a sensational victory in a thrilling, rain-hit German Grand Prix as rival Sebastian Vettel crashed out to hand the Mercedes driver an unexpected gift in the championship battle.

Vettel had been cruising to victory in his Ferrari ahead of Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas until rain started to fall with just over 25 laps to go.

But the weather, which hit only part of the track, turned the race on its head and brought Hamilton into the mix when he had been looking at a fourth-place finish after fighting up from his 14th place on the grid following hydraulic failure in qualifying.

Hamilton began to carve into the advantage of the three leading drivers, - Vettel, his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and Bottas - as chaos erupted down the field.

And then, as the rain became heavier, Vettel lost control at the Sachs Kurve hairpin in Hockenheim's Stadium section in front of tens of thousands of his home fans.

He swore over the radio as he took in the potential damage to his title hopes - and Hamilton pulled away at the front after a safety car period for Vettel's crash, and ended the race with a 17-point advantage when it looked like he would lose further ground.

It was a remarkable result in a remarkable race, which had started as a damage-limitation exercise and ended with his 66th career victory - and one of his best.

"Get in there, Lewis," his engineer Peter Bonnington said after the race. "Miracles do happen."

"Great job by you guys," Hamilton said, but it had been far from smooth sailing for the world champion.

More to follow.

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via BBC Sport - Formula 1 https://ift.tt/OHg7x6

July 22, 2018 at 09:54AM