Lewis Hamilton WINS the German Grand Prix as Vettel crashes out

After qualifying in fourth for the 2018 German Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton wins a thrilling race as Vettel crashes out.

It seemed likely, after Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes let him down, again, in qualifying for the 2018 German Grand Paris, that it would be a limiting the damage race for the Brit. Not a bit of it.

As you would have expected, with a little help from team orders to get Vettel past Raikkonen when he was being held up, Vettel was driving to a victory followed by Raikkonen and Bottas as the rain started falling with 24 laps to go, by which time Hamilton had fought his way up to fourth place.

But the heavy rain, affecting just part of the track, turned the race on is head as Hamilton started to gain in the chaos and, as the rain got even heavier, Vettel crashed out at the Sachs Kurve.

After the ensuing safety car Hamilton took the lead, with Mercedes team orders keeping a Bottas challenge at bay, and drove to a stunning win, followed by Bottas for a Mercedes one-two, Raikkonen in third and Verstappen in the Red Bull in fourth.

Following home the top four it was Hulkenburg in the Renault, Grosjean in the Haas, Perez and Ocon in the Force Indias in seventh and eighth, followed by Ericsson’s Sauber and the Toro Rosso of Hartley.

McLaren and Williams had another poor day, with Alonso retiring on lap 65 and Vandoorne finishing 13th, and both Williams retired.

The last race before the summer break in next weekend in Hungary, with Hamilton back in front in the driver’s title race by 17 points, and Mercedes in front in the constructor’s title race by eight points.