Hockenheim delivered an absolutely superb race
in 2018 – but it was nothing compared to the absolute humdinger the iconic German
track produced this weekend. And it was the large contingent of traveling
Dutch fans that left the happiest as Max Verstappen mastered the rainy
conditions to clinch victory on a day when many of the other big guns quite
literally hit trouble.
But Verstappen's victory was just one storyline
in what will be remembered as an all-time classic Grand Prix. Behind the Red
Bull driver, Sebastian Vettel completed a sensational comeback from 20th on the
grid to second, while Daniil Kvyat was a surprise third as Toro Rosso scored
just their second-ever podium. Runaway championship leaders Mercedes,
meanwhile, suffered a nightmare in their 200th race, with Bottas crashing out
and polesitter Lewis Hamilton having multiple offs on his way to P11.
Starting second, Verstappen and Red Bull
mastered the strategy, taking a gamble to switch to mediums first, then
realizing their mistake and diving back into the pits. The Dutchman pitted five
times in total, but made the right calls at the right time to emerge at the
head of the field.
Vettel crossed the line second, the German
making up seven places in the last 15 laps to cap a marvelous comeback, after
starting dead last having not set a time in qualifying. And he would be joined
on the podium by a tearful Daniil Kvyat, the Russian securing a shock podium
for Toro Rosso after the Italian team pitted him for fresh boots at the perfect
time.
Lance Stroll briefly led the race in the final
stint, after Racing Point, rolled the dice and put him on dry tyres. The move proved
inspired and while he battled bravely, he eventually succumbed to Kvyat and
Vettel to take fourth, ahead of McLaren's Carlos Sainz, who at one stage was as
low as 14th.
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