Hamilton’s prayers answered in epic win
IN HOCKENHEIM AN EMOTIONAL Lewis Hamilton last night said that his prayers had been answered after capturing one of the most remarkable victories of his Formula One career.
Hamilton started only 14th in Germany following a mechanical failure in qualifying, but he scythed his way back through the field, and then took advantage of a dramatic rain-hit conclusion, which involved his championship rival, Sebastian Vettel, crashing out from the lead as he sealed a famous win.
Hamilton leapt from his Mercedes machinery, jumping into his army of mechanics to celebrate a victory – described by his race engineer, Pete Bonnington, as a “miracle” – which moved him 17 points clear of Vettel.
Hamilton’s victory then hung in the balance for close to 90 minutes, as he was hauled in front of the stewards for aborting a late pit-stop, cutting across the grass, and re-joining the track.
REPRIMAND
The question was whether Hamilton had done so in an unsafe manner. But, after explaining his version of events to the race officials, alongside Mercedes sporting director, Ron Meadows, the avoided a timed penalty, and was handed only a reprimand to ensure the 66th win of his career would not be chalked off.
It capped a whirlwind 24 hours for Hamilton, who was booed by the partisan German fans before the race, and his qualifying car failure. The heavens dramatically opened as he stood on top of the podium. Hamilton looked to the sky and spread his arms out wide.
“It has been the most emotional day,” he said. “I woke up this morning and you always have to have the belief.
“I prayed, as I always do, before the race, and my prayers were really answered. It has freaked me out a little bit more than normal, particularly with the biblical storm afterwards.”
On Saturday, Hamilton was slumped over his car after he broke down in qualifying. But yesterday, he didn’t put a foot wrong in a victory that will rank among the best of his career.
From 14th, Hamilton was in the points after just four laps. On lap 14, he passed the Haas car of Kevin Magnussen for fifth, and then began his pursuit of catching the pack. Vettel was 25 seconds up the road.
While his rivals stopped for fresh rubber, Hamilton remained on track in hope the forecast rain would arrive. But on lap 42, Hamilton’s tyres were in tatters, and he had no option but to come in. A little less than two laps later, a light sprinkling of the wet stuff arrived.
Hamilton was revelling in the slippery conditions and, at one stage, was three seconds faster than anyone else. Then, with just 15 laps to run, and the rain getting heavier, Vettel was in the wall. The Ferrari driver had spectacularly crashed out of his home race.
As the safety car was deployed, Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen stopped for new tyres, but Mercedes were unsure what to do with Hamilton. They told him to stop, but Hamilton veered left from the pit entry.
FIGHT
As such, he assumed the lead, and, despite a slap on the wrists from the stewards, it proved the right call.
When the race resumed, Mercedes held their breath as Hamilton and Bottas went wheel-to-wheel for the lead before the team called off the fight.
Bottas crossed the line 4.5 seconds adrift of Hamilton, with Raikkonen in third. Max Verstappen finished fourth, but his Red Bull team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo, retired for the fourth time this season following an engine problem. (© Daily Telegraph, London)