Race Notes - Verstappen wins frantic German GP

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen won the rain soaked German Grand Prix in his Red Bull-Honda. Sebastian Vettel, after starting 20th, finished in second place in his Ferrari, 7.333 seconds behind. Daniil Kvyat in the Toro Rosso-Honda finished third, 8.305 seocnds behind the winner.

The win is Verstappen’s second win of the 2019 season, and seventh of his career. Kvyat’s podium is his second of his career and the second podium finish ever for Toro Rosso. Neither Mercedes finished in the points.

Lance Stroll (8.966s) in the Racing Point-Mercedes was fourth, followed by Carlos Sainz (9,583s) in the McLaren-Renauilt was fifth, Alex Albon (10.052s) in the second Toro Rosso was sixth, Kimi Raikkonen (12.214s) in the Alfa Romeo-Ferrari was seventh, his team mate Antonio Giovinazzi (13,849s) was eighth, Romain Grosjean (16.838s) in the Haas-Ferrari was ninth and his team mate Kevin Magnussen (18,765s) was in the final points finisher in tenth place.

Before the start rain fell, and we prepared for a wet start with showers in the area.

Hamilton is on pole, with Verstapppen alongside on the front row, Bottas and Gasly on the second row, Raikkonen and Grosjean on the third row, Sainz and Perez on the fourth row and Hulkenberg and Leclerc rounding out the top ten. Vettel with a turbo problem in Q1 starts 20th.

The cars went off on the formation lap behind the safety car with all the cars on wet weather tyres.

Many drivers stating that the conditions are good to race.

At the end of the three formation laps, the drivers came to the grid and formed up for a standing start. The lights went out and the race began with Hamilton and Bottas getting away cleanly, Verstappen falling back. Raikkonen up to third, followed by Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Leclerc, Grosjean, Gasly, Sainz and Perez in tenth,

After the first lap Hamilton leads by 2.2 seconds. Magnussen dives down the inside of Sainz at the first corner.

On lap 2 Verstappen passes Raikkonen for third place. Perez spins and touches the wall - the safety car is deployed - Vettel pits for intermediates. Albon pits as well.

The next lap most drivers dive into the pits. Magnussen doesn’t pit, and jumps up to second place.

Behind the safety car Hamilton leads Magnussen, Bottas, Verstappen, Stroll, Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Norris, Russell and Kubica in tenth place,

At the end of lap 4 the safety car comes in and the race resumes with Hamilton in the lead.

Bottas passes Magnussen for second, Verstappen gets by Magnussen as well. Vettel runs tenth.

On lap 5 Leclerc passes Magnussen for fourth, Hulkenberg gets by as well for fifth.

Raikkonen and Magnussen battling for sixth.

Vettel up to eighth place.

On lap 7 Stroll finally pits for intermediates.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m30.025s.

On lap 8 Raikkonen passes Magnussen for sixth, Vettel and Sainz get past Magnussen as well.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m29.688s.

On lap 8 Magnussen pits for intermediates.

Hamilton sets fast lap at 1m29.022s.

At lap 10 Hamilton leads Bottas by 2.8s, followed by Verstappen (4.6s), Leclerc (11.3s), Hulkenberg (17.6s), Raikkonen (27.4s), Vettel (30.9s), Sainz (33.9s), Albon (37.0s) and Giovinazzi (39.4s) in tenth place.

Teams suggesting that more rain is on the way in about 15 minutes.

A team fine will be imposed on Ferrari for an unsafe release.

On lap 15 Ricciardo suffers an engine failure.

The virtual safety car is deployed to collect the Renault.

Leclerc and Hulkenberg both pit for more intermediates. The race resumes.

Verstappen makes a move on Bottas for second place, but gets it wrong and slides and loses some time. Red Bull tells Verstappen to be patient.

Leclerc, on new intermediates, sets fast lap at 1m27.697s.

Hulkenberg passes Raikkonen for fifth.

Sainz spins at the last corner but is able to continue.

At lap 20 Hamilton leads Bottas by 5.9 seconds, followed by Verstappen (7.4s), Leclerc (11.8s), Hulkenberg (29.3s), Raikkonen (34.0s), Vettel (39.3s), Albon (45.9s), Giovinazzi (53.3s) and Gasly (56.1s) in tenth.

Stroll passes Magnussen for 15th.

Vettel complains that his tyres are worn out.

On lap 22 Magnussen pits and puts on soft dry weather tyres - the Haas taking a gamble - he rejoins in 16th.

Verstappen has closed up to under a second behind Bottas.

On lap 23 Vettel pits for soft slick tyres as well and rejoins 11th.

On lap 25 Verstappen pits and switches to medium slick tyres, and rejoins fouth.

Kvyay, Norris and Stroll all pit.

On lap 26 Bottas pits from second place.for medium slick tyres and rejoins in third.

Verstappen spins in the stadium, but continues.

On lap 27 Leclerc pits for soft slick tyres. Norris pulls off the track complaining that he lost power.

The Virtual safety car is deployed. Albon pits for soft tyres. Sainz pits for more intermediates. Hamilton pits from the lead and switches to soft tyres. At the same moment Leclerc goes off on the final corner and crashes out of second place.

Raikkonen, Vettel, Gasly, Giovinazzi, Kvyat, rosjean, pit

Hamilton goes off the trakc in the stadium, breaks his wing and then pits for a new wing and switches to intermediates and rejoins in fifth.

Verstappen pits.

Bottas leads Verstappen.

Bottas pits for soft tyres. Verstappen leads.Hulkenberg, Bottas, Albon, Hamilton, Sainz, Raikkonen, Vettel, Gasly and Giovinazzi in tenth.

When Hamilton pitted, he entered the pits on the wrong side of the bollard and is under investigation.

Under the safety car, at half distance, Verstappen leads Hulkenberg, Bottas, Albon, Hamilton, Sainz, Raikkonen, Vettel, Gasly and Giovinazzi in tenth, all running on intermediate tyres.

At the end of lap 33 the safety car comes in and the race resumes with Verstappen leading.

Lewis Hamilton receives a five-second penalty for going on the wrong side of the pit bollard.

On lap 35 Hamilton passes Albon for fourth place.

Bottas passes Hulkenberg for second place at the hairpin.

On lap 38 Hamilton passes Hulkeberg for third place.

On lap 39 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m27.623s.

Raikkonen runs wide at the final corner and drops back to ninth.

On lap 41 Hulkenberg slides off in the final corner, and much like Leclerc and ends up in the barrier wiile in fourth. The safety car is out.

Verstappen pits from the lead for another set of intermediate tyres. Vettel pits for intermediates and rejoins in tenth.

Stroll pits for soft slick tyres and rejoins in 14th.

Hamilton is complaining that his intermediates are worn out.

At the end of lap 45 the safety car comes in and the race resumes with Verstappen leading Bottas and Hamilton.

Albon gets alongside Hamilton

On lap 46 Verstappen pits for soft tyres. Kvyat, Bottas, Sainz, Magnussen, Gasly, Albon and Grosjean all pit for soft tyres.

Hamilton and Vettel pit for soft tyres. Stroll leads, but Vertappen passes him for the lead.

On lap 48 Kvyat sets fast lap at 1m20.031s.

Verstappen leads Stroll, Kvyat, Bottas, Sainz, Magnussen, Albon, Gasly, Vettel and Grosjean in tenth.

On lap 49 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m18.386s.

Albon passes Magnussen for sixth place.

On lap 49 Verstappen sets fast lap.

Kvyat passes Stroll for second place.

On lap 51 Vettel sets fast lap at 1m17.590s.

Red Bull advises Verstappen to take it easy on the left side tyres.

On lap 54 Hamilton goes wide at the first corner and spins, but contnues.

Grosjean gets past his team mate Magnussen for ninth place.

Hamilton pits for soft tyres and rejoins in 15th.

On lap 54 Vettel sets fast lap at 1m17.045s and runs sixth.

Bottas challenges Stroll for third place.

The two Haas runners touch but continue.

On lap 56 Bottas spins in the first corner and hits the wall. The safety car is out. Verstappen pits again for soft tyres - his fifth pit stop.

Magnussen and Hamilton both pit.

Behind the safety car Verstappen leads Kvyat, Stroll, Sainz, Vettel, Albon, Gasly, Raikkonen, Grosjean and Giovinazzi in tenth place.

At the end of lap 59 the safety car comes in once again and the race resumes.

Verstappen flashes out front with five laps left.

Vettel passes Sainz for fourth into the hairpin.

Albon passes Gasly for sixth place.

Vettel closes on Stroll in third place.

On lap 61 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m16.645s.

On lap 62 Vettel powers past Stroll into the third place. Gasly pressuring Albon for sixth runs the Toro Rosso and is out.

On lap 63 Vettel passes Kvyat for second place.

Gasly is under investigation.

On the final lap Verstappen leads the field to the finish and wins over Vettel and Kvyat.

After the race Kvyat called the race, "a horror movie with a bit of black comedy.”