German GP gallery: Tyres & fires, as Sebastian Vettel wins
- Published
Endless tyre talk dominates the paddock at the start of the ninth race weekend of the season - the Nurburgring welcomes back Formula 1 for the first time since 2011 and Lewis Hamilton's thrilling victory
Germany is the setting but the most famous Austrian racer of all time, Niki Lauda, is spotted deep in friendly conversation with the sport's supremo Bernie Ecclectone - Lauda, 64, won a grand prix at Hockenheim but never here
It's a big race weekend for Australian veteran Mark Webber, who announced last month his intention to leave Formula 1 at the end of the season - the 36-year-old will be competing in sportscars for Porsche
Oscar winning film director Ron Howard is a welcome visitor to the Nurburgring. The former star of Happy Days is directing the new F1 film about the 1976 Formula 1 season - Rush opens in September.
Lewis Hamilton was hoping for his first win of the season, after qualifying ahead of Sebastian Vettel in pole position. His last race win came in November 2012 at the USA Grand Prix
German Sebastian Vettel, who leads the championship race by 21 points but has never won his home grand prix, meets some of his fans, hoping to cheer him to victory on Sunday
Lewis Hamilton is deep in conversation with his team prior to lights out, but it's to little effect as he starts poorly and finishes fifth - "I felt I was having such a difficult time," he admits afterwards
But Brazilian racer Felipe Massa has an even worse race day, with his Ferrari spinning and stalling on the third lap, ending his challenge. It is the first time in 14 races in Germany that Massa fails to finish
Catastrophe in the pit lane - the right-rear tyre on Mark Webber's Red Bull is not secured correctly and as he speeds away it falls from the car. The loose wheel bounces into a cameraman who requires medical treatment, while Webber drops back
Back on the circuit and Jules Bianchi's Marussia lets out a huge plume of smoke as the engine expires on lap 24 - a small fire breaks out at the rear and the Frenchman jumps out quickly and heads for safety
It's a tactical battle right to the death but, after the chequered flag is waved, the Red Bull team congregate beneath the podium to point their cameraphones skywards at the delighted race winner
It is Sebastian Vettel yet again, his fourth win of the season and the 30th of his Formula 1 career. A precious home grand prix victory - "It's unbelievable. I am very, very happy"
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