2018 GERMAN GP

Most of the greats have at least one blast through the pack on their CV, and this race at Hockenheim is Hamilton’s only win from outside the top 10 on the grid. Hydraulics issues in qualifying meant his Mercedes had to start 14th.

Poleman Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari led as Hamilton started a charge that got him through the midfield runners and, thanks to Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull being even further back, into fifth on lap 14 of 67.

As those ahead pitted, Hamilton rose to third, while Kimi Raikkonen’s early stop allowed him to jump team-mate Vettel into the lead. The status quo was restored with some team orders so, after Hamilton’s stop, the order was Vettel-raikkonen-valtteri Bottas-hamilton.

Then conditions changed. “I knew there was the possibility to win when it started to rain,” said Hamilton. Although Hamilton became the fastest man on the circuit, Vettel continued to build his lead as Raikkonen struggled – Bottas closed in and grabbed second in traffic.

The moment of high drama came on lap 52. Vettel was nine seconds ahead of Bottas when he locked up into the Sachskurve and slid at slow speed into the gravel – and out of the race.

The safety car was called. Bottas came in, but confusion over the radio meant Hamilton aborted his entry to the pits, driving across the grass to continue. When Raikkonen pitted on the next lap, Hamilton took over at the front, with team-mate Bottas second.

The job wasn’t done yet, because Bottas now had fresh ultrasofts and attacked at the restart, Hamilton forced to go defensive. Mercedes then instructed the Finn to stay put. Hamilton had needed some luck, but had played his part to take one of his most remarkable wins.