Here’s Giles Richards’s race report:
So enjoy the rest of the weekend - most sensibly by following the denouement of the British Open with Scott Murray.
Stop press: Vettel says it was a small error and so he won’t struggle to sleep tonight, but it was a positive weekend and he didn’t need the rain. He apologises to the team who he says made the right calls - I wonder if he means that - and is still confident himself and his car.
So that’s about us - what a race! Join us again in a fortnight for the Hungarian GP ... your guess is as good as mine.
Mercedes, meanwhile, lead the constructors’ championship by eight points from Ferrari.
Celebration time. Hamilton now leads the Drivers’ Championship by 17 points from Vettel. Raikkonen is third, Bottas fourth and Ricciardo fifth despite retiring here.
Anthem time.
And here comes Hamilton prancing and bouncing along the dais - as well he might!
This has got to be one of the greatest wins of Hamilton’s career - of anyone’s career. And here comes the rain again, absolutely hammering down now.
“Has there ever been a driver who has made adversity work so well for him, as Lewis Hamilton?” emails Peter Groves. “He even seems to have derived energy from the hate he complained about yesterday. Superb.”
Hatred - and anger, probably partly at himself. He imposed himself from the start here, and the little bit of jockeying with Bottas was great. Slam!
Here’s our report of a bazzer for the ages...
He also says that conditions were perfect and when it started raining he knew he had a chance. He hanks his team and allows himself one indulgence: “For those who don’t know me, now you do!”
Hamilton says he believed he could win, and though it was unlikely, you’ve always got to believe. He said a really long prayer before the start, “kept pushing, kept believing and it happened ... I achieved my dream today ... thanks to God.”
Hamilton rushes towards his team, jumps in, and has a little jog down the track. Incredible.
That was phenomenal - and might it also be pivotal? If Vettel had won today, it would’ve seemed a long way back for Hamilton, but suddenly he’s achieved the impossible, he on a buzz, and will believe in himself and his team like never before.
So our final standings:
1. Hamilton
2. Bottas
3. Raikkonen
4. Verstappen
5. Hulkenberg
6. Grosjean
7. Perez
8. Ocon
9. Ericsson
10. Hartley
“Miracles do happen mate,” Mercedes tell Hamilton; “Love conquers all,” he responds. Deep.
Lewis Hamilton wins the German Grand Prix from 14th on the grid! I repeat, Lewis Hamilton wins the German Grand Prix from 14th on the grid! He now leads the drivers' championship!
Phew!
Updated
Lap 67/67: And here comes Hamilton! What a drive! What a race!
Lap 66/67: So Vettel’s duck at Hockenheim continues; in the meantime, Hamilton racks up the fastest lap of the race and bouts as fast as he can to get this did before the rain comes.
Lap 66/67: The rain will be with us on the final lap...
Lap 65/67: The rain will be with us imminently, and it’ll be heavier apparently. But it’d best get a wriggle on...
Lap 64/67: There’s a threat of rain, but it’s not going to matter. The leaderboard now reads:
1. Hamilton
2. Bottas
3. Raikkonen
4. Verstappen
5. Hulkenberg
6. Perez
7. Ocon
8. Grosjean
9. Ericsson
10. Sainz
Lap 62/67: Hamilton’s lead is up to 2.561s. What a drive, set up by how quickly he moved through the field at the start and elevated by the perfect tactics for the circumstance.
Lap 61/67: It starts to rain again, but the gap from first to second is up to two seconds. And behind them, Raikkonen isn’t within DRS range, which makes this an incredible weekend for Mercedes.
Lap 60/67: well who expected this?! Maybe not even Lewis Hamilton! Bottas has been told to hold his position now - with an apology, which I’m sure made him feel so much better - so as long as Hamilton stays on the track, he’s going back on top of the drivers’ championship!
Lap 59/67: DRS is back involved at the end of the next lap, but Hamilton is going to be too far ahead for that!
Updated
Lap 59/67: Sainz is under investigation for overtaking while the safety car was out, while Hamilton extends his lead to 1.960.
Lap 58/67: With Bottas looking to overtake Hamilton, Raikkonen closes and that’s great for Hamilton who bousts out of DRS range.
Lap 58/67: And Hamilton streaks away ... just!
Lap 58/67: And off we go! Hamilton has his team-mate Bottas behind him which might help ... or not as Bottas has a go and they’re wheel to wheel!
Lap 57/67: The safety car is off at the end of the lap ... what a race this has been! What a race this now is!
Lap 56/67: Sainz is up into eight, Ocon is seventh, Perez sixth, Hulkenberg 5, Verstappen fourth, Raikkonen third, Bottas second ... and Hamilton first. The safety car will surely depart now...
Lap 55/67: We’ve still got the safety car on, so it’ll be a sprint for the line. Hamilton, whose tyres are the oldest, will have to fight to maintain his lead, but surely he’ll have enough from here!
Lap 54/67: They reckon in commentary that Vettel was too cautious, and I wonder if the strategy was part of the problem - obviously it didn’t overshoot the corner, but it did cause an unhappy driver.
Lap 53/67: So Raikkonen leads ... but pits, and now Hamilton leads! Oh I say! Raikkonen comes out behind Bottas, and Hamilton is literally going to win isn’t he! I cannot believe what I’m typing here! This is incredible, ridiculous, and every other such word! Mercedes have got their strategy absolutely bob-on here, even if they did need a serious error to bring it home.
Updated
Lap 52/67:Vettel made an error heading into the Saxe Turn, going too wide, and found himself unable to correct - there wasn’t the room - so into the barrier he went, and oh dear me!
Lap 52/67: The safety car is on!
Lap 52/67: Hamilton is gaining on Raikkonen now - AND VETTEL IS OUT OF THE RACE! HE CRASHES INTO A BARRIER!
Updated
Lap 51/67: Bottas attacks Raikkonen, who shuts the door, while Magnussen and Perez duel and the latter spins off! Then Raikkonen has to move over and Bottas powers past!
Lap 50/67: There’s a bit more rain, but only a bit.
Lap 50/67:
LAP 46/67
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 22, 2018
A bit of front wing damage for Vettel 😮#GermanGP 🇩🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/5yiGbQzYJX
Lap 49/67: My guess is that Vettel will be able to hang on, but Mercedes seem to have read the conditions better, saving their pit til the last possible moment and giving Hamilton the best chance of moving the furthest through the field.
Lap 48/67: The rain appears to be done. That’s a kick in the goolies for Verstappen, who’s just stopped on its account, while it transpires that Gasly is on full wets. Whoops!
Lap 48/67: Vettel appears to have lost a bit of car after running over the kerb. He’s still fine, but that’s one to keep an eye on.
Lap 47/67: Verstappen pits and comes out behind Hamilton. Vettel, meanwhile, keeps doing what he’s been doing, and don’t forget that he has Raikkonen bodyguarding is anyone else decides to get wide.
Lap 46/67: Hamilton is absolutely bousting! He’s fifth at the moment, 20 seconds behind Vettel, but making up a second or so a lap and there are 20 laps left...
Lap 45/67: Those are gambling, because half the track is still enjoying sunshine.
Lap 45/67: Sauber call Leclerc in for intermediates, then Alonso comes in for the same...
Lap 44/67: In commentary, they reckon ultras will be fine, which puts Hamilton in a strong position - if it rains, he’ll be set far better than anyone else. But here comes the rain!
Lap 43/67: And Hamilton pits, onto ultrasofts ... do they think it might not rain? Or might rain only a little? If so, he’s in serious business.
Lap 42/67:
LAP 39/67
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 22, 2018
Vettel is let past his teammate for the lead at the hairpin 👀#GermanGP 🇩🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/nsuzoHtJgl
Updated
Lap 41/67: The shower is coming, and will hit turn 2 first apparently.
Lap 40/67: Rain in eight minutes ... apparently.
Lap 39/67: Raikkonen is told that he and Vettel are running different strategies, and not to hold up his teammate, a polite version of get out the road. He doesn’t make it easy for them, making them spell it out, but eventually they twig, get it said, and Vettel now leads.
Updated
Lap 37/67: Still eight minutes from rain as Vettel locks up again. He alerts his team to the tyre temperature and what’s going on here is hard to understand.
Lap 34/67:
LAP 26/67
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 22, 2018
...And he duly pits, dropping down to fourth#GermanGP 🇩🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/ZON6vCjnA6
Lap 34/67: We see Hamilton’s tyres which don’t look that bad - I guess the problem comes if the rain is delayed. Meanwhile at the front, Raikkonen leads by 1.060s.
Lap 33/67: Vettel’s rears are getting hot and it looks like Ferrari’s strategy isn’t quite working here. Rain is predicted for 10-15 minutes, while we wonder if Hamilton can hang on that long - if he can, he’s well set to change once and do more damage than we might’ve expected...
Lap 32/67: Hamilton is now lapping 0.3s faster than Raikkonen, whose lead is 1.267s. They’re all waiting for it to rain now.
Lap 31/67: Raikkonen is still setting down fire, putting in the fastest lap of the race. The gap, though, is still minor; Hamilton, now in third, is 3.5s behind or so, but is yet to stop.
Lap 29/67: The rain is headed towards us, apparently. Raikkonen now leads from Vettel by 1.068s, though at some point he’ll have to sneak in an extra pit.
Lap 29/67: It’s Bottas, who rejoins behind Hamilton ... while Ricciardo is out! It’s a power problem of some sort, and that’s a shame because he was moving through the field nicely.
Lap 28/67: Apparently it’s absolutely caning it down just a few miles away from Hockenheim. Bottas is nearly six seconds ahead of Verstappen, but Mercedes are out - someone is pitting...
Lap 26/67: Mercedes leave Bottas out there...
LAP 25/67
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 22, 2018
A minor lock-up for the race leader...#GermanGP 🇩🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/3a1v2wVAha
LAP 26/67
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 22, 2018
...And he duly pits, dropping down to fourth#GermanGP 🇩🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/ZON6vCjnA6
Lap 25/67: It’s all gone a little quiet a the front. Raikkonen, whose stop was perhaps to keep Hamilton away from Vettel, is pulling him through thanks to his new tyres – he’s just set a fastest lap. But Vettel suffers a minor lock-up, pits, and is now fourth,while Bottas leads for a bit.
Updated
Lap 23/67:
LAP 20/67
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 22, 2018
Another one ticked off the list for Ricciardo ✅
He moves past Leclerc for P10, despite some resistance#GermanGP 🇩🇪 #F1 pic.twitter.com/MtXtoc7PV6
Lap 22/67: It looks like Raikkonen is the only man on a two-stop strategy. Meanwhile, Hamilton is the fastest man on the track now, but Raikkonen’s change is keeping him at bay.
Lap 20/67: So we’ve got:
1. Vettel
2. Bottas
3. Verstappen
4. Raikkonen
5. Hamilton
6. Perez
7. Grosjean
8. Ricciardo
9. Alonso
10. Magnussen
Lap 20/67: Ricciardo hauls himself into tenth, diddling Leclerc around the outside of turn 11. That was very nice.
Lap 18/67: Vettel steps on it, widening the gap by 0.5s to 4.685. This is serene from him so far.
Lap 17/67: Hamilton is 3.0s behind Raikkonen, who has just set the fastest lap so far. Vettel, meanwhile, is just doing the necessary, maintaining rather than increasing.
Lap 16/67: Alonso attacks Leclerc and ends up right off the track, while Bottas goes round quicker than Vettel; Raikkonen’s tactic does not look like it’s going to work.
Lap 15/67: Raikkonen, in fourth, goes in early onto softs. He’ll be looking to drag Bottas in after him, against his will, but will have to go some to make it work.
Updated
Lap 14/67: Hamilton is on Magnussen, employing his DRS and letting it all hang out. He deals, with prejudice, and sets off for Verstappen.
Lap 13/67: The clouds are gathering and darkening.
Lap 11/67: Hamilton is now into sixth, having rammed through Hulkenberg. He’ll need to stay on these tyres til at least lap 30, so can’t go too hard trying to resolve Friday’s problems.
Lap 10/67: Some drivers are talking about tyres overheating, while at the front it’s quite slow. They too might have a tyre situation, or might be trying to get as far into the race as possible before they’ve to change to wets.
Lap 9/67: Ricciardo gets by Ericsson into 14th.
Lap 8/67: Hamilton saunters by Grosjean into eighth, while in front, Vettel leads by 3.637.
Lap 7/67: But Perez is after Grosjean, and after a brief squabble forces by. Hamilton will not be long. Meanwhile, Ricciardo complains on the radio that the heat is mithering his rear tyres.
Lap 6/67: Hamilton must be loving the thrill of this race though, context aside, because he pulls to the side of Sainz and takes him out too. Perez is next, and within reach...
Lap 5/67: At the front, though, Vettel is powering clear, now ahead by 2.404s. He’s already an entire pit ahead of Hamilton, the price you pay for having to plough through the field.
Lap 4/67: Hamilton is getting into this! He puts his foot down and gets his car up around 200mph, then cruises by Leclerc into the points. He’ll be fancying himself a bit more than that though.
Lap 3/67: Hamilton is in 12th now and attacking Fernando Alonso ... he goes by into 11th!
Updated
Lap 2/67: So we’ve got Vettel, Bottas, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Grossjeabn. The lead at the front is 1.592.
Updated
Lap 1/67: But Vettel is still in front and by enough, while Hamilton advances one place, ahead of Sirotkin!
Lap 1/67: Bottas reacts first and gets away well and Verstappen is fighting him, getting down the side of Raikkonen!
Here we go!
Hamilton is on soft compound, going for a longer first stint - they must be expecting rain, so looking to change only once.
Of course, the main stuff might be done by then, but I daresay Lewis Hamilton will be doing his best Choni Hama’agel impression.
I was wrong: there’s a 60 percent change of rain about an hour in.
“What about Prost?” tweets John O’Hara. “82-93, always got most out of his car. Four titles, four runners-up. Also would’ve won 88 but for the ‘best 11 races’ rule.”
Maybe he and Senna are Ronaldo and Messi, though I guess in that context, Ronaldo would be him. I wonder if he altered how people looked at the sport - and would happily defer to someone better placed to judge.
Max Verstappen, who starts fourth, thinks he has a “good race car”. But, like Magnussen, he doesn’t make any bold proclamations when pressed. I think he knows, as they all do, that if Vettel gets away well they’re hoping for an intervention.
Which is your favourite tricolour? I’m currently finding something seriously affecting in the Italian version. I think it’s the green.
Anthem time!
Kevin Magnussen, who starts fifth on the grid, is happy with how stuff’s going, but non-committal on whether he can parlay that into a podium finish. He’s not nervous yet, but he will be.
It’s pretty warm in Hockenheim, but not as warm as on Friday. It’s not going to rain.
Chase Carey says that this might not be the last German GP for a bit, and they might get something done ... but they’re running out of time.
BREAKING: a Mexican wave has broken out.
On 5 live the other night, they reckoned Lewis Hamilton is to racing what Cristiano Ronaldo is to football. Obviously it’s impossible to compare across sports, but anyway, I’m not sure about that one. What’s astonishing about Ronaldo is the consistency - he’s been brilliant now for 12 years without pause - and making us perceive things differently. As far as I can make out and in my lifetime, Senna and Schumacher are the only drivers who’ve reached that level. But I might be wrong.
Updated
It was 2007 the last time Ferrari won the Drivers’ Championship, but they’ll fancy themselves to polish this one off from here. Their car is just too quick for Mercedes at the moment – suspiciously so, say BBC quoting, er, Mercedes. Either way, 0.5s per lap on the straights is a nasty little dent that doesn’t look likely to change over the next few months. Hamilton might still dredge up points where there seemed to be none, but not often enough to overcome that.
Preamble
Yes, we’re only halfway through the season, but might we have reached its critical point? It’s true that Sebastian Vettel’s lead in the driver’s championship is just eight points, but while Lewis Hamilton was accumulating that early lead, it was hard not to think that things were simply going his way – remember Azerbaijan land of fire? – and there was no way such stuffiness could sustain through eight months. It could not.
So now he finds himself 14th on the grid and with a temper on to boot, while Vettel has poll on a track that no longer facilitates all that much in the way of racing. If his Ferrari doesn’t fail, that lead is going to extend this afternoon – if it doesn’t rain, and if everyone stays safe, by a fair bit.
Start: 2.10pm BST
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