Red Bull Motorsports
F1
Max Verstappen storms to victory at a wet and wild German Grand Prix
It was a thrilling race at Hockenheimring as Max Verstappen topped the podium for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing and Mercedes bottomed out.
The 2019 edition of the German Grand Prix promised to be an exciting one on Sunday morning as rain flooded the track, and fans were treated to a fast-paced game of chess throughout all 64 damp laps.
With constant tyre changes, crashes and safety cars, it became almost impossible to keep up with each driver's position changes.
A very wet race start
© Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool
The race started with a few formation laps under the safety car, so fans were relieved when the race director gave the go-ahead for a standing start (which means the safety car leaves and drivers start as normal). Both Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing were booted in full-wet tyres in anticipation for the wet weather forecast in P2 and P4 respectively.
Choosing tyres became a game of chess
Cold tyres and a poor grip meant it was a squirrely start for both Verstappen and Gasly, and both drivers, among many others, dropped back a few positions. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton led the race and Sebastian Vettel put his Ferrari to work by making up six places in just the first five corners of Lap 1, a pace he would continue throughout the race. A safety car was introduced on Lap 2 as a result of Sergio Perez putting his Racing Point car into the wall, so many drivers dived into the pits to switch to intermediate tyres.
This proved to be the right move, as the race quickly picked up pace, with Verstappen moving up to P3 and Gasly picked his way back up to P13. By Lap 21, those on inter tyres were starting to complain about grip as they rapidly wore out; it became a matter of 'slicks or fresh inters?' with warnings that more rain could be on the way.
The drivers and race engineers agreed on slicks, and throughout Laps 24–8 most drivers came in for either some fresh medium or soft tyres, including Verstappen and the two Mercedes and Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari in front of him.
Misfortune for Mercedes on their 200th race start
This is where the race was turned on its head! On Lap 29, Leclerc put the number-16 Ferrari into the barrier, leading to the re-introduction of the safety car and triggering a few drivers to head back into the pitlane for inter tyres. It was during this safety car period that Hamilton spun off the track heading on to the pit straight, losing his front wing and deciding to dive into the pitlane for an immediate repair – which he didn't get.
Verstappen passes Leclerc in the barriers
© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
The Mercedes team didn't know Hamilton was going to come in, and a mad dash ensued to find a wing and a full set of tyres to put on his car. The pitstop lasted 50.3 seconds and he was later handed a five-second penalty for entering the pitlane on the wrong side of the bollard. By Lap 31, Hamilton re-entered in P5 and Verstappen was in the lead.
On Lap 40 it was clear that inters were the tyres of the day as those on slicks continue to play slip 'n' slide with the track. Unfortunately Nico Hülkenberg’s afternoon ended early after his Renault also ended up in the wall. And of course, out came the safety car again.
Verstappen took this opportunity to switch back from medium tyres to inters, returning in P7. The drivers in front of Verstappen all followed suit and pitted for inters on Lap 47, apart from the Racing Point of Lance Stroll, who was now leading the race. It didn't take long for Verstappen to retake the lead.
The day didn't get any easier for Mercedes; Hamilton spun again on Lap 54 putting him down in P13, ending his 22-race streak of finishing in the points. Shortly afterwards, on Lap 57, Valtteri Bottas ended up in the gravel, finishing his race.
A great result for the Red Bull family
Max Verstappen and Daniil Kvyat on the podium at the German GP
© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
At the end of the day, it was the mighty lion Verstappen who won the German GP. While all of this action was happening, Daniil Kvyat was quietly bringing his Scuderia Toro Rosso home to finish in P3 – claiming only a second podium for the Italian team since Vettel won in Monza in 2008. Team-mate Alexander Albon took his highest place finish in F1, finishing in P6. Vettel of Scuderia Ferrari completed the podium when he managed to fight all the way from dead-last (P20) to P2. Unfortunately for Gasly, contact on Lap 62 ended his race abruptly.
Max Verstappen gets Driver of the Day
Not only did he win Driver of the Day by the public vote, Verstappen also claimed the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1m 16.645s.
Max Verstappen takes his 7th career win in F1
© Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
