Last Sunday’s German Grand Prix kept fans in their seats until the end, unsure of who would win an incredibly unpredictable race.
Over the last few seasons, the Mercedes has dominated Formula 1 racing. Period. With the introduction of the new turbo V-6 hybrids, the Silver Arrows have made watching the sport somewhat of a dull affair.
Verstappen and Red Bull cross the finish line last Sunday (photo, Motor Sport Magazine)
There have been minor diversions from that rule, such as victories by Daniel Ricciardo and on occasion, Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, and a few others, to make things a little different. But what hasn’t happened is what took place last weekend at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, Germany.
The race has been labeled, “The Greatest Race of This Generation.” Maybe that’s an overstatement but, for sure, the race didn’t fit what has become a predictable pattern of Mercedes finishing 1-2 with Ferrari trying to edge into that bracket.
The weather certainly played a big part in Sunday’s affair. Rain followed what had been a scorcher of a week in Germany with temperatures topping out at between 100 and 107 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s highly unusual for central Europe, which has a climate similar to the eastern U.S.
And while the rain might have been lighter by the time the green lights went out, it took its toll on one particular part of the Hockenheim circuit–the last part where the drag strip is located. Yes, the drag strip.
The Grand Prix and DTM events aren’t the only events held at Hockenheimring. The track also hosts part of the European drag racing calendar, and the drag racing part of the circuit doesn’t have much runoff for Grand Prix cars.
Charles Leclerc, Nico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas, and Lewis Hamilton can attest to that: they all slid into this sector. Hamilton damaged his front wing and, then, surprised his pit crew by not only coming into the pits unannounced but also taking the wrong side on the pit entry. He went left of the pylon instead of the required right side, and that gaffe cost the Englishman a five-second penalty.
If Verstappen winning the race wasn’t exciting enough–or Vettel driving to a fine second from starting in last–then consider this: results aren’t final, of course, until they are made official.
Hours after the race finished, both Alfa Romeo drivers of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi, who had presumably finished seventh and eighth, were penalized.
That outcome gave Hamilton a ninth-place finish–a relief of sorts–because at race’s end he hadn’t picked up any points on the day. With those penalties applied, Hamilton jumps up the board and earns two points. Penalty applications also benefited veteran returnee Robert Kubica and Williams, which got their first points of the season. It’s a happy reward in what has been a horrible season for the driver and car so far.
So if you are Williams (and let’s add) Ferrari, Red Bull, Racing Point, and Toro Rosso, you likely love this event and can’t wait to return. Mercedes and Renault likely feel differently. Those two are already concentrating on the next stop–in Hungary later this week–and trying to forget about what happened at Hockenheimring.
There’s more, too. While Mercedes sponsored this year’s event, the carmaker has made it clear it does not wish to be involved in 2020. That decision will probably mean Grand Prix racing will not return to Hockenheim next year. If true then, as the Germans say, ‘schade’*
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