20/07/2014
NEWS STORY
Following two days of searing heat earlier this morning it appeared to be a case of 'all bets are off' as heavy rain began to fall on the Hockenheimring.
The 'experts' had been predicting it all week, but what do they know? Fact is, last night they were claiming an 80% chance of rain today. They were right, sort of.
While it was heavy it soon stopped and the track began to dry, leaving just a few damp patches for the GP2 race.
However, a couple of hours before the start of the race the weather men have changed their minds, claiming that the rain will return tonight leaving the rest of the day bright and sunny. We shall see.
The big news is that following his crash in Q1 yesterday, Mercedes was considering changing the brake discs on his car which would have meant starting from the pitlane. In fact, the German team announced this morning that due to yesterday's crash it was changing the gearbox on his car, thereby incurring a 5-place grid drop.
The announcement came around the same time the first large spots of rain began to fall, which could have been a total coincidence...
The FIA decreed that the change of discs should not necessitate a pitlane start, however, with the gearbox change the team might still opt in its favour.
Then again, if it remains dry and temperatures return to what we had yesterday...
Whether Hamilton's accident really did "gift" teammate Nico Rosberg pole we don't know, after all, the German was quickest in two of the three practice sessions.
Anyway, certainly in the opening stages of the race Rosberg won't be worrying about the antics of his teammate rather the two Williams of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa as the Grove outfit's miraculous return from the midfield continues.
Bottas really is a star of the future and Williams has done well to 'discover' him. Other than his obvious talent, there is the fact that he avoids the spotlight, preferring to get on with the real business. As the team goes from strength to strength, that maiden win might not be too far away. Indeed, having finished (no pun intended) third in Austria and second in Britain, there is an obvious progression today. However, Massa, especially in the wake of his cruel elimination At Silverstone might have other ideas.
Another 'star of the future' starts from fourth today, Kevin Magnussen. Again, like Bottas, this unassuming youngster gets on with the job, regularly out-shining a vastly experienced teammate. He went off the radar after Melbourne - a result the flattered McLaren - but is now regularly making his presence felt.
The Red Bull duo - where once again Ricciardo has the edge - are not as close to the Mercedes as was thought on Friday, and consequently will hope to take as many points as possible and thereby at least keep the German team in sight in the championship, especially at a time of growing reliability concerns for the German team.
Fernando Alonso will give 100% - as he always does - whilst it remains to be seen whether Force India can hold off McLaren.
Toro Rosso has been strong this weekend but reliability remains an issue, whilst Sauber appears to have made a slight improvement, possibly due to the removal of FRIC. Then again, the removal of the controversial systems seems to have totally banjoed Lotus. Indeed, Marussia is lining up the Enstone outfit today.
As we look ahead to the race, it is with sadness that we hear of the death of actor James Garner. Whilst some will be wondering what on earth this has got to do with an F1 race report others will remember Mr Garner from his role as Pete Aron in the John Frankenheimer movie Grand Prix.
Of course, we also have to mention the terrible tragedy - indeed, atrocity, that is Flight MH17. Contacted by Pitpass this morning the FIA was still unclear whether there would be a minute's silence before the race. We hope there is, not necessarily because we believe in them but because there was such a silence ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.
A similar tribute ahead of today's race might send the wrong message - after all, one cannot pick and choose which tragedies merit such tributes, especially when they involve the same airline.
Eighty minutes before the start of the race mechanics are still working on Hamilton's car, the team still unclear if it will start him on the grid (20th) or from the pitlane.
A two-stop strategy is theoretically fastest, although there is not a big time difference to a three-stopper. Ultimately, the decision will come down to degradation and wear rate - which will also be influenced by track temperature - and external race circumstances, such as traffic. If it does rain, the strategy will have to be reactive rather than premeditated.
The prediction for the quickest strategy is supersoft-supersoft-soft, stopping on laps 18 and 38. A three-stop sprint strategy could also work, but the two-stopper is more likely.
The pitlane opens and one by one the drivers make their way to the grid.
One driver who definitely will be starting from the pitlane - Mercedes opting to put Hamilton on the grid - is Marcus Ericsson after it was discovered that Caterham failed to cover and seal his car in line with the regulations following qualifying. Indeed, the Sweden must also serve a ten-second stop-and-go penalty within the first three laps.
"The reason for the dual penalties is to serve as a disincentive to a breach of Parc Ferme resulting in unsupervised access and significant extra time to work on a car between qualifying and the race," reads a statement from the Hockenheim stewards.
There is no tribute to the victims of flight MH17. A sad decision.
As the filed prepares to head off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 33 degrees. Currently there is now a 60% chance of rain at some stage in the race, possibly around an hour into it.
As they head off on the warm-up lap, all are on the option rubber bar Raikkonen, Grosjean and Hamilton who have opted for primes.
The grid slowly forms.
They're away. Rosberg lead into T1 but there is a horrible crash behind, Massa's car being flipped over in the process. Thankfully the Brazilian is OK, much to the delight of the crowd. For the third time this season his race has ended on the first lap. The other driver involved was Magnussen, who has only incurred damage to his left-front, having been little choice as Massa seemed unaware he was behind.
Ricciardo, who had to run very, very wide to avoid the sliding, upside down, Williams, loses a heap of positions. Magnussen pits and rejoins in twentieth.
Behind the Safety Car, it's: Rosberg, Bottas, Vettel, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Button, Kvyat, Perez, Raikkonen and Sutil. Hamilton is seventeenth.
The Safety Car pulls off at the end of lap 2, Hamilton passing Chilton to take 16th and setting off after Maldonado.
As Rosberg posts a new fastest lap, Button is all over Hulkenberg as they battle for 5th.
After 4 laps, Rosberg leads Bottas by 1.8s with Vettel a further 1s behind. Hamilton is up to 14th and hard on the heels of Ricciardo who will be no push over.
Ricciardo is told to start pushing and warned that Hamilton is behind having made his way through the field.
Hamilton attempts to follow Ricciardo as he passes Sutil, however, the German gives the Mercedes a slight nudge possibly unaware of its presence. Elsewhere, the Stewards decide to take no further action following that first lap incident.
"The understeer is incredible," complains Hulkenberg. The German still under intense pressure from Button. Behind them, Perez is under serious pressure from Kvyat.
The Russian makes a bold move around the outside of the Mexican in T8 but they touch sending the Toro Rosso into a spin, losing a heap of places in the process. From 8th to 16th in one fell swoop.
As Ricciardo closes on Vergne, Hamilton makes a sneaky move on the Red Bull driver. But to no avail.
Magnussen, now down in 18th, is advised that cars ahead are starting to pit and that this is his chance for a long stint and some points.
Absolutely brilliant stuff as Ricciardo and Hamilton go either side of Raikkonen as they battle. The Australian is successful in the move, Hamilton not so. The Briton loses out but moments later is all over the Finn as Ricciardo heads off into the distance. Side by side into the stadium they battle, the Mercedes driver having to back off, the Iceman in no mood to give way.
At the end of lap 12, Alonso is the first driver to make a regular pit stop.
Struggling on his tyres, Ricciardo loses out to Raikkonen and Hamilton who touch. Brilliant, frightening stuff, with Perez almost a victim of the squabbling pack behind.
Button, Ricciardo and Vergne all pit at the end of lap 13. Hamilton is now up to 7th ahead of Raikkonen.
Out front, Rosberg leads Bottas by 9s.
Vettel, Hulkenberg, Perez and Gutierrez all pit at the end of lap 14.
Now it's Vettel fighting the two Ferraris, as Rosberg and Bottas both pit. Again Raikkonen clashes, this time with his teammate who was battling Vettel straight after emerging from the pits.
Phew! Deep breath.
"Do I have to save fuel," asks Hamilton, who is now up to second. "Negative Lewis," comes the reply.
After 16 laps, Rosberg leads his teammate by 7.7s with Bottas third, a further 1.5s behind. Vettel is fourth ahead of Alonso, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Maldonado, Sutil and Button. Sutil and Chilton both pit, whilst Hamilton and Raikkonen have yet to do so.
Ricciardo is told to make various adjustment on his steering wheel. Reading into the message it doesn't sound too good.
"Slight spot of rain on the visor," warns Bottas. "His team advise that it is nothing to worry about. Yet.
Having previously been told that - as it stands - should Bottas pass he is still on for second, Hamilton allows the Finn through offering no resistance.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 20, dropping to 14th in the process.
Maldonado and Kvyat in a hard fight for 15th, the Venezuelan capitalising on the Russian's mistake. Moments later Grosjean also passes the hapless Toro Rosso driver.
Good scrap for 10th building with Vergne, Grosjean, Perez, Sutil and Raikkonen.
Perez is told to lift and coast. "This is the last time I'm going to tell you," he is firmly warned after the Mexican asks about the chance of rain.
As Rosberg laps at 22.0, and Bottas 22.7, Hamilton is lapping at 23.5.
Raikkonen barges his way past Grosjean and then Perez, the Iceman fully fired up this afternoon.
"Menu magic position one," Hamilton is told, "no rush, just gets us ready for the pit stop." "I've never heard of that one," admits the Mercedes driver. Join the club Lewis, join the club.
As Raikkonen passes Magnussen to take 9th, Hamilton is told to pit.
As Hamilton pits, at the end of lap 26, Vergne is given a five second stop and go for leaving the track and gaining an advantage.
Hamilton, who sticks with the prime rubber, rejoins in 8th.
Race over for Grosjean who stops at T2 with a suspected engine problem. The Frenchman claimed he had no power.
"Chassis switch to position two," Hulkenberg is told. However, the German says he is having problems with the switch. He is told to persist.
Hamilton makes short work of Ricciardo to take 7th, and while the Red Bull driver attempts to resist he cannot match the pace of the Mercedes.
Hamilton attempts to pass Button on the inside in the Hairpin but the two clash. The Mercedes driver damages his left-front wing as he hits the sidepod on the McLaren. Shortly after Hamilton sweeps past his former teammate, subsequently waving an apology for the original clash.
Button pits next time around, the end of lap 31. He rejoins in 9th.
Concerned that he may have an issue and thereby losing pace, Hamilton is told that his team are looking into the strategic situation.
Back at the Hairpin, Hamilton passes Hulkenberg to take 5th. Despite the obvious damage to his wing there's no stopping the Mercedes driver.
Alonso makes his second stop, almost being speared by Chilton in the pitlane in the process.
Unsurprisingly, Raikkonen is unhappy with the handling of his car.
Vettel pits next time around, rejoining in 6th just ahead of his old pal Alonso, having undercut him. Nonetheless, the Spaniard passes him into the Hairpin as battle is resumed. You can't keep these guys apart.
At the end of lap 35, Ricciardo pits, rejoining in 8th. Alonso posts a new fastest lap (21.212).
After 36 laps, it's: Rosberg, Bottas (14.9s), Hamilton (16.9s), Hulkenberg (7.8s), Alonso (1.9s), Vettel (0.4s), Button (9.4s), Ricciardo, Vergne and Maldonado.
No sooner has Alonso nailed Hulkenberg than Vettel sweeps past the Force India. Elsewhere, Vergne serves his penalty.
Hamilton is told that to change his win would lose too much time so they will merely try to balance the car. That said, at 22.2 his pace is quite good.
"Really struggling with the left-front now," cries Rosberg as Hulkenberg makes his second stop of the day.
Bottas pits at the end of lap 40 as Hamilton says "it's not going to last", possibly referring to his wing.
Ricciardo posts a new fastest lap (21.101) as Perez and Gutierrez appear to clash as they battle for 12th.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 41, the German rejoining still in the lead by 4.9s.
Told he needs to save fuel, Vettel says "do you want me to pass or save fuel?" Race fans around the world cry as one... "pass, pass, pass!!!".
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 42, swaps to the option rubber and gets a tweak of his front wing.
Somehow, somehow, a sliding Ricciardo manages not to hit the side of Button as he tries to pass the Briton for 6th. Button is having none of it.
On fresh rubber, Hamilton goes quickest in S1 as he attempts to close the 8.7s gap to Vettel. The Mercedes driver posts a new fastest lap (20.724).
Vettel pits at the end of lap 45 as Kvyat's Toro Rosso burst into flames. The Russian gets out of his car, eventually, but takes his anger out on the Armco which he punches in frustration.
Ricciardo and Bianchi both pit.
Ahead by 14.3s, as the skies darken, Rosberg is told that his team is not expecting any rain during the race.
Hamilton continues to set a blistering pace as he sets about closing the 1s gap to Alonso. However, the Mercedes driver looks likely to have to pit again.
He sweeps past the Ferrari, Alonso offering no resistance. Further back, Vettel nails Button and sets off after his old mate Alonso who is 17s up the road.
Sutil spins on the pit straight, Hamilton doing well to avoid him. "There is something wrong on the car," says a distinctly downbeat Adrian.
As the double yellow flags are waved, Hamilton makes his final stop. Sutil's car still in the middle of the track and no sign of the Safety Car.
After a bit of fumbling the marshals finally manage to push Sutil's car to safety.
Hamilton is now fourth, 9.4s down on Alonso, with 14 laps remaining. Bottas is a further 17.2s up the road.
As Ricciardo passes Hulkenberg for 7th, Bottas is told that he can get to the end on his current tyres but has to be careful.
Hamilton posts a 19.908 as he closes to within 5.6s of Alonso. Elsewhere, Magnussen and Raikkonen pit. A mistake by the Finn sees him lock-up and lose 11th to Perez.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 55, rejoining in 7th, behind the Button/Ricciardo scrap, but on a set of options.
Ricciardo makes a great move to pass the McLaren as Alonso keeps a watching eye. Hamilton closes to within 5.9s of Bottas.
Alonso passes Button and sets off after Ricciardo as Hamilton is told that he is 1.5s a lap faster than Bottas who is 4.5s ahead. "He should be an easy catch," the Briton is told.
"We're not racing hard," Bottas is advised, "we just need to get this tyre to the end."
Alonso sweeps past Ricciardo but the Australian subsequently re-takes the position. They battle for corner after corner, all that's missing is Vettel.
"Use overtake for defending," Bottas is told, "but we've got to get this tyre to the end."
But so has Hamilton, whose tyres are also looking ready to give up the ghost.
A very late stop for Button (8th) as the TV Director cannot choose between the Alonso/Ricciardo battle or the Bottas/Hamilton fight. As Alonso finally nails the Red Bull at the Hairpin, the director opts for the fight for second.
Clearly his tyres aren't enough, Hamilton's only hope now is that Bottas loses time behind the backmarkers. Elsewhere, Raikkonen is told a few drops of light rain are expected. Oh what fun!
Kobayashi runs wide, almost out of the circuit, in his efforts to keep out of the way of Bottas and Hamilton. "He's too fast on the straight," says the Mercedes driver.
Rosberg takes the flag, the German seemingly Missing In Action all afternoon. For the second season in succession a German wins the German Grand Prix. For Nico, what with getting married and his country winning the world Cup, not to mention a new contract with Mercedes, it's the perfect conclusion to the perfect week.
Bottas takes a thoroughly well-deserved second. No disrespect to Hamilton but, in only his second season, Bottas' drive was that of a seasoned pro. Brilliant stuff.
Hamilton, who must be right up there for drive of the day, will leave here fully satisfied, the damage having been very much limited following yesterday's disaster.
Vettel finishes fourth, ahead of Alonso and Ricciardo, all three having driven great races today, a race that had a bit of everything and kept us on the edges of our seats throughout.
Hulkenberg takes seventh, ahead of Button, Magnussen and Perez for the final points.
Raikkonen, who must feel he was in a Stock Car Derby today, finishes eleventh, ahead of Maldonado, Vergne, Gutierrez, Bianchi, Kobayashi, Chilton and Ericsson.
The fan turnout might not have been too impressive today - victory fatigue in Germany? - but those who did attend, and the many millions watching on TV, have been treated to a real thriller. It might have been a Sunday afternoon stroll for Nico, but for the guys behind it was non-stop, throughout the field, for almost the entire afternoon.
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.
Chris Balfe