LEWIS SHORT-CUT TO GLORY
LEWIS HAMILTON stormed from 14th to first at the German Grand Prix to turn F1’s world title battle on its head.
But the Mercedes star was made to sweat by the stewards before they finally decided, almost three hours after the finish, that his remarkable victory stood.
A short cut by Hamilton had brought his win into doubt after a late decision to abort a pit stop saw him veer across the grass and back onto the track. He had never won a race when starting outside the top six on the grid.
But a stunning drive, combined with Sebastian Vettel crashing out from the lead when the heavens opened, saw him win ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.
“I have never had a race like this,” said Hamilton, right, who now leads Vettel in the championship by 17 points.
“After racing for so many years, you never know when you’re going to have a better race than your best race, but this is right there with them.
“You always have to believe and I said a long, long prayer before it started.
“I wanted to stay collected, stay calm and the team did such a great job. I really manifested my dream today. I’m just so grateful for the team and their belief in me. For those that don’t know me, now you do.”
The last comment would seem to refer to questions over whether Hamilton had caused the damage to his car which cut short his qualifying run on Saturday.
LEWIS HAMILTON climbed off his knees to claim one of the greatest grand prix wins of his stellar career.
The Mercedes driver was crushed after being forced out of qualifying with mechanical issues, meaning he had to start 14th on the grid.
The image of Saturday was of Hamilton trying in vain to push his stricken car back to the pits before sinking to the floor, overcome with emotion.
Fast forward 24 hours and the picture of the day was of a victorious Hamilton, arms aloft after climbing from the cockpit of his car before leaping into the welcoming arms of his mechanics.
This time the misery was reserved for Sebastian Vettel, who struggled to hold back the tears as his best and possibly last chance of winning his home race was snatched away from him.
Indeed, if this is to be the last German Grand Prix for the foreseeable future should their contract not be renewed, it was one heck of a way for Hockenheim to bow out.
The race already had plenty of ingredients to be a classic, with Hamilton way down the order and Australian charger Daniel Ricciardo starting from the back.
Hamilton’s progress through the field was just as rapid as it had been at Silverstone two weeks ago after a first-lap contact with Kimi Raikkonen shunted him down the field.
But fifth place looked like being the best he could hope for until the rain, which had threatened for much of the race, finally arrived.
It appeared the drivers might be able to cope with the greasy track at first, as those who had dived into the pits for intermediate tyres were soon forced to return for another set of slicks.
But as the shower intensified, it was race leader Vettel who was guilty of the most costly mistake, losing control of his Ferrari on lap 52 at turn 13 before sliding across the gravel trap and into the barriers.
After taking victory at Silverstone, Vettel boasted down his radio about how Ferrari could take the flag of St George back to Italy to hang in their Maranello factory.
On home turf all he could muster, following his potentially titledeciding shunt was: “F***s sake, f***s sake, sorry guys, oh s***t!” Vettel’s misfortune led to the safety car being deployed, prompting Valtteri Bottas and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen to dive into the pits.
Hamilton was all set to do the same before a late call to abort forced him to dive across the grass and back onto the circuit to take up first place. With 10 laps to go, the race resumed and Bottas went for his Mercedes teammate full tilt. But the Finn was soon told to hold station with the track still treacherous. Hamilton has proved time and time again he is master of such conditions and, despite more rain on the final lap, there was to be no loss of focus en route to the chequered flag ahead of Bottas and Raikkonen.
Hamilton’s day of drama was not complete, however, with stewards taking almost three hours after the finish to decide that a reprimand was sufficient punishment for his pit-lane diversion.
So an eight-point deficit to Vettel in the fight for the title has remarkably been turned into a 17-point advantage.