Qualifying
The qualifying session proved that the practice session was in some way an indication of what was to come. Kimi Raikkonen most notably being well off the racing line. Notable scalps to fall in the opening session were Rubens Barrichello and the Brazilian Nelson Piquet.
The second session saw the McLaren of Hamilton and the Ferrari of Massa swapping fastest laps and Raikkonen again looking particularly off colour with a horrible handling Ferrari. Jenson Button was another high-profile driver not to make the cut to Q3. Heidfeld suffered a continuation of his qualifying woes as well.
Raikkonen's poor pace continued throughout the afternoon, landing the Finn only sixth position. It was Massa and Hamilton taking the front row, with the McLaren ahead. Kovalainen managed third and Alonso and Trulli were the usual stars, with the two men taking fourth and fifth places, respectively.
The Race
What appeared to be an ordinary Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring this weekend turned itself into a stunning and gritty race for many drivers, not least Britain's Lewis Hamilton. Here's the run down of how events transpired at the German Grand Prix.
From the lights, everyone made a decent getaway, all barring David Coulthard and Robert Kubica. The BMW made a great start, surging ahead of Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen from the off.
At the front, Lewis Hamilton held off Felipe Massa and stretched out an impressive lead of over a second by the end of the opening lap. Coulthard was bogged down by the shuffling pack, and the retiring Scot ended up down in 14th place, behind Jenson Button.
Further down the order there were battles all around. Coulthard settled into a long bout with friend Jenson Button. The Red Bull was clearly much quicker than the Honda.
Fernando Alonso was scrapping up and down the field with various close battles with Rosberg, Trulli, Heildfeld, and also a monumental tussle with Sebastian Vettel.
The onboard footage revealed a Renault that was very frustrating to drive, with the two-time world champion turning the steering wheel frantically to maintain direction and momentum.
Hamilton, at the head of the field, had managed a massive lead of over 10 seconds by the time the Safety Car made its appearance at around the halfway stage in the Grand Prix.
Timo Glock in the Toyota had been driving an impressive race and was in the points when on the exit of the Sud Kurve, leading to the pit straight, his car suffered suspension failure, pitching the German into a heavy collision with the pit wall, backing into it sending debris across the circuit.
When the Safety Car was out, everyone pitted except, Lewis Hamilton and one or two others, notably Renault's Nelson Piquet. When the race got back under way, the young Brazilian was in second place.
Not too long after the race was back under way, the two most experienced drivers on the grid had a big coming together. Coulthard and Barrichello collided, breaking the Honda's nose and ending its Grand Prix. The other Red Bull of Webber retired earlier with what looked like engine failure under the Safety Car.
Alonso was forced onto the circuit outside of the white, pit-lane exit lines by Toro Rosso's young gun Vettel frustrating the Spaniard in typical fashion and leading to a vendetta.
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4 months ago
WHAT ... A ... RACE !
4 months ago
It was a fantastic race, very good racing throughout the field.
I think Hamilton did well to come back and win, although had it been Hungary or Spain he would have been screwed.
Piquet was extremely lucky to finish 2nd but sometimes you just need that lucky break to get going and hopefully he will push on from here.
4 months ago
Definitely a highlight of the season so far. At last a Mclaren that is clearly faster than the Ferrari's. Nice job lads...
4 months ago
Yes it was a good race, But I'm a bit confused cause I did not think that Team Orders were allowed ?
And it was clear to every one that Hikki was told to let Lewis pass. I know that Hikki was only told that Lewis was faster, but hey we are not stupid. Perhaps the FIA is, but that was not a fair to Hikki.
Lewis was clearly the fastest man, but he was given the win by the McLaren pit wall.
Hikki would newer had let Lewis by that easy.
TEAM ORDERS ? ? ?
Feel sorry for Hikki, he must have a tough time in McLaren
from 4 months ago
Disagree with you completely, he didnt get the order to move at all ... Heikki himself was playing the team game himself sensibly knowing that Lewis was faster and sooner or later he would have took him ... So knowing that Lewis had the better chance of a race win then let him through ... He was playing the team game ... Was nothing to do with pit wall !
4 months ago
I don't think team orders came into play by direction of the Mclaren team. It was clear to Heikki, to Lewis and to those of us watching that Hamilton was the fastest car. If team orders did come into play they would have done so much earlier than when Heikki allowed Lewis to pass.
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