How the thrilling German GP unfolded

Summary

Sebastian Vettel crashes out from lead in rain
Lewis Hamilton wins and later reprimanded for driving offence
P2 Valtteri Bottas, P3 Kimi Raikkonen
Daniel Ricciardo retires in the Red Bull, Williams cars also go out
Get involved #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Michael Emons

'Mercedes pit-stop shambles'published at 15:31 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 57/67
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Earlier on, Hamilton started to come into the pits, then at the last available moment decided to stay out as his mechanic screamed 'in, in, in, in'.
That abandoned pit stop from Lewis Hamilton was a shambles. But as a driver, what do you do? It made a lot more sense to stay out, but that was a bit of drama.
Postpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 56/67
We are still under safety car conditions. We have a 67-lap race and it is currently lap 55.
Hamilton, now on older tyres, is the man everyone will be chasing when we get going again.
Postpublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 55/67
Some heartbreaking team radio from Sebastian Vettel. The German sounds like he is in tears as he apologises to his team with his car mangled in the barrier.
His hopes of a home win, like the front of his car, smashed up.
Image source, Formula 1 Twitter
Listen to Raikkonen being told to move aside for Vettel...published at 15:26 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
That moment you are told to move out of the way and let your team-mate into the lead...
Media caption,
Raikkonen seeks clarification about the strategy battle with Vettel
Story so farpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
- Championship leader Sebastian Vettel crashes out on Lap 52
- Vettel had led after team-mate Kimi Raikkonen – who pitted much earlier – was ordered by Ferrari to let him through
- Rain causes drivers to struggle
- Daniel Ricciardo retired on Lap 28 after reporting loss of power
- Vettel started on pole, Hamilton in 14th after hydraulics failure in Q1, Ricciardo and Gasly started at back of grid with power unit penalties
Postpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 54/67
Kimi Raikkonen pits, Lewis Hamilton leads. He started 14th.
Hamilton and Mercedes have had strategy disasters this season. They may have got it absolutely spot on today.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
We are under a safety car...
Postpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 53/67
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Unbelievable stuff. Vettel's at Turn 12 in the gravel. He's slamming the steering wheel. He knows exactly what he's done. Just a little oversteer.
Just touches the wall, but the contact is serious enough. That's where all the fans are as well. It's an absolute shocker.
Postpublished at 15:23 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 53/67
Valtteri Bottas comes in, and it is disastrous pit stop. They didn't have the tyres ready and the stop takes ages.
Vettel crashespublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Breaking
Heads in hands in the Ferrari garage. Sebastian Vettel is in the barrier. Race done. He was in the lead.
Incredible stuff.
Image source, Formula 1 Twitter
Postpublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 52/67
Jack Nicholls
Radio 5 live sports extra Formula 1 commentator
These cars can barely drive now! Bottas can barely put the throttle down!
Postpublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 53/67
"The lapper blocked me completely," screams Raikkonen. He also said a few other words we can't say, straight after being overtaken by Bottas.
Postpublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 52/67
Sergio Perez goes off the track and Valtteri Bottas gets past Kimi Raikkonen, on the much older tyres.
Can Bottas catch Sebastian Vettel.
Postpublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 51/67
Charles Leclerc goes massively off road and there goes any slim hope of a point for him.
Nailed it?published at 15:19 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Right now, Mercedes have nailed it. If the conditions stay stable, Lewis Hamilton is going to win the race.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 51/67
Hamilton: "It's raining a lot now."
Mercedes: "We are expecting that to last three minutes."
Postpublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 50/67
Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra pit-lane reporter
The strategists have got their knickers in a twist over the rain here.
Postpublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Lap 50/67
Gambles failed for Pierre Gasly and Charles Leclerc. Leclerc was on the intermediates, Gasly was on the full wets. The full wets!
They are now the bottom two. Not every gamble works. Max Verstappen has also been a loser in this situation. That could be fourth place thrown away from him.
Image source, Getty Images
'Bonkers'published at 15:17 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Jack Nicholls
Radio 5 live sports extra Formula 1 commentator
Pierre Gasly has gone out on full wets? That's bonkers. He's just slithered off.
Team radiopublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 22 July 2018
Ferrari to Sebastian Vettel: "Rain decreasing. Rain decreasing."
Image source, Getty Images