Wow! What a race! Hockenheim has been well and truly raced with many safety cars, spins, pitstops, crashes and retirements. What more could you ask for?
A delayed start proved to be the beginning of a thrilling race. After a safety car led formation lap, consisting of not one but three full laps, the race began as it should have with a static grid and five lights.
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Both Red Bull's had a tricky start with mountains of wheel spin and minimal grip leading Max Verstappen to drop from second to fourth in just a matter of seconds. However, Red Bull were one of the only teams on the grid to make the right tyre decisions at the right time, and with a race like Hockenheim, tyre choice and timing was crucial. As such, both drivers then had the chance to climb up the standings, and with tricky conditions both had to be performing at their best. Pierre Gasly had an unfortunate incident with Alex Albon, which was purely a racing incident, however, it did lead to Pierre losing his front wing and damaging his tyres ultimately ending his race just three laps before the checkered flag. Max, on the other hand, also had a 360 spin but managed to recover and secure a well deserved victory.
Sebastian Vettel managed to secure second place at his home Grand Prix with a stunning drive from last on the grid at lights out to second on the podium! After a shambolic qualifying on Saturday in which engine issues left Sebastian unable to leave his garage in Q1, he was therefore out without even touching the track, starting last in 20th for Sundays race. Similar issues occurred on Saturday with Charles Leclerc's car riddled with issues in Q3, deeming him 10th for the race start. Sunday wasn't much different for Charles with a small mistake on slick tyres leading to a one way ticket to the barriers, seemingly reminiscent of Sebastian Vettel's 2018 Hockenheim shunt. Whilst, Sebastian managed a dynamic, vigorous drive and even compared himself to David Coulthard's Scottish wet weather power driving.
Image: Toro Rosso
Toro Rosso. Wow. After a mediocre qualifying on Saturday with Daniil Kvyat in fourteenth and Alex Albon in sixteenth the weather changeable conditions on Sunday favoured the Italian team. After a multitude of incidents, many safety cars (SC) and virtual safety cars (VSC) were released, playing into the hands of Albon as he managed to efficiently pit under the SC and VSC every time, effectively halving the time spent in the pits! Moreover, Germany was the first ever wet Formula 1 race for the Thai rookie, therefore, securing his career best finish of sixth is even more impressive! As if this wasn't enough for the team, Daniil Kvyat managed to secure the teams second ever podium for the team since Sebastian Vettel in Monza 2008. A third place finish for the Russian tallies his total F1 podiums to three. The elated Kvyat began his weekend by becoming a father just one day before his feat onto the podium, a fairytale race weekend. Could this boost in confidence and maturity place Daniil in prime position to take over from Pierre Gasly in the sister team, Red Bull? After all, he is the comeback kid with a capital C!
Racing Point managed to lead the race for a few laps with Lance Stroll being the first Canadian since Gilles Villeneuve to lead a Grand Prix. After a fantastic strategic call to undercut the whole grid and pit first before the penultimate safety car, Stroll's brilliant defending led him to come home in fourth. Unfortunately, the other side of the garage was not as lucky, with Sergio Perez spinning out after just one lap becoming the first of many retirements.
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McLaren also had a race of two halves, with Lando Norris retiring after a loss of power and gear sink left him stranded on the side of the track. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz managed to secure fifth place and bag some well earned points. Previous to this, Sainz was using family rally skills to avoid the gravel trap and barriers.
Haas had yet another 'lovers spat' between the two drivers, both of which banged wheels during the hectic race. However, unlike Silverstone, both drivers managed to continue running and finished the race in seventh and eighth, after being promoted by the Alfa Romeo penalties. Previously, they would have finished ninth and tenth. But with so many issues sparking from the drivers, are they doing more harm than good to the Haas program? And, with Pascal Wherein, Ferrari test driver, being seen in the Paddock during the weekend, could this be the wake up call the boys need to keep it clean?
Mercedes... After such a joyous occasion of 125 years in motorsports and their 200th race start, their weekend began so well off track, but, on track was a completely different story, Mercedes seemed to be slightly off the pace... Fortunately, this is the first time this season. However, the confusion and question mark as to why is the more worrying part. Weather was a huge factor in the confusion as their tyre strategy, along with many other teams, were skewed. Saturday, however, showed them to be their normal selves with Lewis on pole and Valtteri in third place. Although, with tricky conditions and complete unknowns due to all other sessions that weekend being dry, Sunday came as a question mark to every team. Seemingly hitting Mercedes the hardest. Both cars finished out of the points, with Valtteri having an unfortunate slide into the barriers, whilst, Lewis spun damaging his front wing and landing himself a five second penalty for not entering the pits properly. As such, his pitstops went to shambles, a rarity for such a high performing team. Essentially Lewis finished just outside the points in eleventh. However, after the Alfa Romeo penalties the Brit was promoted to ninth. Toto Wolff was asked about the weekend and seemed to blame some of their bad luck on the karma of early celebrations. Did their fancy dress relax the team? Or was it just a series of unfortunate events that was bound to happen at some point this season? Unfortunately, it just so happens that Netflix were filming with the team for this weekend only...
Image: Mercedes AMG F1
At the other end of the Pitlane, Williams managed to secure their first point of the season! Robert Kubica managed to secure his first Formula 1 point since his last point eight years ago, along with his first wet F1 race for nine years! He did, however, cross the finish line in twelfth, it just so happened that the Alfa Romeo boys penalties pushed them below the Williams'. Unfortunately for George he was promoted to eleventh, just outside the points. A small victory for the team.
Alfa Romeo managed a double points finish, crossing the line seventh and eighth for Kimi and Antonio respectively. However, after a stewards enquiry over a breach of article 27.1, meaning both Raikkonen and Giovinazzi received radio instructions on the Grid before lights out, the Alfa Romeo's were demoted out of the points to twelfth and thirteenth. Ultimately striping them of their well earned points.
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Finally, Renault had a dismal weekend with a double DNF. Daniel Ricciardo had an exhaust failure leading him to retire after plumes of smoke billowed out onto the track on lap 13. Whilst Nico Hulkenberg slid out of his home Grand Prix straight into the barriers, after running in third place for a number of laps.
After such a fantastic race filled with ups, downs and unknowns, how can Hockenheim not be on the calendar next year?
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