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Formula One fans were stunned by Mercedes’ performance at the German Grand Prix on Sunday when World champion Lewis Hamilton crossed the line in 11th place and Valtteri Bottas crashed chasing a podium finish.
What should have been a celebratory qualifying and race weekend for Mercedes, who were marking their 125 years in motorsports and 200 F1 races at the time, ended in disaster. Hamilton, who started from pole position, is more than happy to put this atrocity behind him.
“What a crazy race,” he said. “This has been one of the most difficult races we’ve had as a team for a long time.”
The day was off to a rocky start to begin with. The Hockenheimring Circuit was drenched with rain on race day causing Hamilton to struggle.
“I thought I had the race under control but we took a risk going out on slicks and the race fell apart from there,” said the five-time F1 champion with 80 career wins. “I went wide at Turn 16 and it was like ice out there, then hit the wall and damaged my wing. I made a mistake and paid the price. I was in the lead and then finished P11. I’m not even sure how, but that’s very painful and I’m just glad it’s over. It’s hard to perform when you’re not at 100 per cent. I need to make sure I’m fit and healthy again in time for the next race. You live and you learn from days like this. It’s important now that we regroup for Hungary.”
Mercedes also needs a very strong response from Bottas in Hungary’s race this Sunday. He crashed while trying to overtake the considerably slower Racing Point car of unheralded driver Lance Stroll, not the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel or the Red Bull of race winner Max Verstappen.
Verstappen’s victory was just one highlight that will be remembered as an all-time classic Grand Prix. Behind the Red Bull driver, Vettel completed a sensational comeback from 20th on the grid to second and Daniil Kvyat was a surprise third as Toro Rosso scored just their second ever podium.
Hamilton added: “I’m happy for Seb, who fought his way back to P2 from the back, and how good to see Daniil and Toro Rosso on the podium too - good for them.”
Meanwhile, the Finnish driver, Bottas, who turns 30 next month, is in a fragile state at the moment. He is trying to earn another one-year deal for 2020, but Toto Wolff, the team’s head of motorsport, has yet to choose between him and 22-year-old Frenchman Esteban Ocon.
