Lewis Hamilton has won the 2011 German Grand Prix. The McLaren driver took the gong at Nurburgring ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Mark Webber. It was Hamilton’s second win this season after China, and his 16th career victory.
Current world champion Sebastian Vettel had a quiet race by his standards – enduring a big spin on lap 10 after an uncharacteristic mistake of putting his wheels on the grass while at that – and finished fourth, ahead of Felipe Massa of Ferrari, though there was a final flourish from both at the very end of the race.
The two drivers pitted at the same time a lap from the end for hard tyres, and while Massa led Vettel in, the Red Bull crew managed to get the German out ahead of the Brazilian. Still, it was Vettel’s first no-podium finish this season.
Finishing in sixth was Adrian Sutil of Force India, followed by the two Mercedes GP Petronas cars of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher. In ninth was Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber, while 10th place went to Vitaly Petrov of Lotus Renault.
Meanwhile, it was another day to forget for the other man at McLaren, Jenson Button. Things may not have been as dramatically painful as that in the British GP a fortnight ago, but a retirement is a retirement, however it comes – the end for the 2009 world champion came on lap 36 when a hydraulics problem put him out.
Pole-sitter Webber had a poor start to the race, allowing Hamilton to get the jump on him at the first turn, and he was almost taken too – on either side – by the two Ferraris, though that moment came to pass and it eventually settled into the usual strategy game and seeing if staying out longer – or coming in early – on a particular compound could prove an inspired choice.
While that dictated things, the race itself was far from dull – there were certainly enough moments of bravado, first from Webber on lap 32 in attempting to overtake Hamilton as the Englishman came out from the pits after a tyre change, though that maneouvre, which almost came to the point of contact, didn’t come off for the Australian.
Then it was Hamilton’s turn to do the same to Alonso a lap later as the Ferrari came out of the pits, and through sheer muscle, the 2008 champion darted past the Spaniard. Once in the lead, Hamilton edged away from the two-time champion.
Towards the end, the leading pack attempted to stretch their softs for as long as they could – Hamilton traded to the hards on lap 51, Alonso two laps later, and Webber holding out until only four laps from the end, a gamble which didn’t pay off. In the end, Hamilton cruised to a comfortable victory, and set the fastest lap of the race two laps before the chequered flag.
Beyond the racing, what is perhaps more telling is the fact that the previously all-conquering Red Bulls are starting to look quite mortal after all. Vettel still holds a commanding lead in the drivers championship, 77 points ahead of second-placed Webber, but if the last two races are anything to go by, it’s going to be a very interesting run to the end of the season. Has the RBR juggernaut finally been derailed? Next weekend’s race in Hungary should provide more clues.
You can check out the full results here.
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yeah hamilton!
Webber finished ahead of Vettel? No team orders there I suppose.
Vettel was also further down the grid fighting with Massa so there’s no opportunity for team orders.
But changing tires at the last lap was really cutting it too close.
Definitely the best race I’ve seen in a while..
Completely full of overtaking with no clear winner up until the final pit..
Superb race! So many times the lead changed between Hamilton, Alonso and Webber. I think this is the first time that 3 constructors are able to keep pace with each other this year for the lead.
The cold weather may have contributed for the McLaren’s good run but Hamilton’s driving was sublime. The way he kept his lead, pushing out Webber as he exited the pits and then overtaking Alonso as the leading Ferrari came out from the pits was simply awesome.
I just hope that these three guys will maintain their performance and put Vettel off the podium so that F1 will be exciting again this season.
Vettel already tired of winning so given the chance to Hamilton. Last race the chance was given to Alonso, next race the chance may be will be given to Lotus’s driver.
R u sure?! How abt McLaren gives chance to RedDull winning in 2009 althought they have fduct?!
Or RB dominating 2011’s althought Mclaren have a NEW 2011’s Innovation that did not reveals it yet?!that’s can make RedBull dusted 1-2secs per lap!!
wht I know is RB will be ‘a season wonder’ like BrawnGP!!
It is good for Mclaren supporter to be wishful thinking at this time.
‘a season wonder’: Do know who is the last year champion ?
Of course they just ‘A SEASON WONDER’ for 2010!!
And RedBull only dominating half-season, and will left behind by Ferrari & Mclaren after this!
Therefore,don’t even dreaming RB win this year!!! Last year Mclaren do not show their true-pace just because just to let SV takes championship and took-out Lewis Hamilton from youngest-ever champion b’cause seems LH alittle bit down on performance after winning at 2008!!
So please,dont even dream RB win this year…Mclaren don’t even show their ‘WEAPON’ for 2011!!!so stop dreaming…..
Half the season and quite far behind vettel in points….. still not showing the so called ‘WEAPON’ for 2011??? Does it really exist or it’s you who are dreaming??
Weapons is there…u’ll knew it when u look at the mclaren car’s chasis,bcause that ‘weapon’ cannot be copied by rivals,like Jenson Button says at the early seasons – “if they(rivals) copied the innovation,they’ll failed!”
Of course to let hamilton win,he cannot equipt with the best car package,let someones lead the championship…Mclaren knows that…dont want repeat mistakes like hamilton did in 2007 when he lead to much on 3-4races remaining….
Just like lewis says in youtube video-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RrTwqfYqKw&feature=youtube_gdata_player
“this is the key to winning (2011) championship,generating MASSIVE downforce”
“No one can keep-up us on straight(line)!!”
-clear it’s a WEAPON for 2011…No Doubt!!
The Mclaren supporter is not only dreaming, but is a wankar.
RedDull die hard maniac individual with several stupid names..pathetics ;-p
Pathetic Mclaren supporter still believe in Hamilton’s fart, really speechless.
Well…let’s Mclaren speak on track…in F1,anythings can happen…
Hamilton for WDC 2011!
2010 not 2009…
Viva mclaren! Viva hamilton!
Superb race….
And as usual,when other than vettel & reb’Dull’ win the racerace became so interesting!!!
Time for Mclaren to revenge!!! Yeah!!
Totally enjoyable race, not a single boring moment, even the producer had problems deciding when to go for commercial breaks.
Yeah !! Yet another interesting race. Yap, so long as Vettel is off the radar, there would be a good race, hate to see him taking poles after poles and then proceed on with a boring race.
Ya man, give SV a slap on his face at his homeground ! Good job hammy !!