adminHOCKENHEIM. — Lewis Hamilton extended his lead in the Formula One drivers’ championship to 19 points after winning the German Grand Prix with ease yesterday, with Mercedes teammate and title rival Nico Rosberg fourth. Home hero Rosberg surrendered his lead from pole with a dreadful start to the Briton, who stormed away to claim his sixth win in seven races and strengthen his grip in the title chase.
Second was Daniel Ricciardo, with Max Verstappen, his young Red Bull team-mate, third. Reigning world champion Hamilton took full advantage of the poor start by Rosberg, who also received a five second pit-stop penalty for an over-aggressive passing move, to deliver a flawless drive.
“I had a great start and my engineers gave me a perfectly balanced car,” Hamilton, who started second on the grid, told the Hockenheim crowd from the podium. “I am so happy to be here and to win for Mercedes Benz – I have been with them since I was 13.
“Today it was about staying cool and I didn’t make any mistakes and in my heart I felt I did a great job. For me, yesterday wasn’t perfect, but you learn from those things.” For Rosberg, who was seeking to repeat his 2014 triumph, it ended up as a day of disappointment on home soil.
The home fans had another German to cheer as four-time champion Sebastian Vettel finished fifth ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and compatriot Nico Hulkenberg, who was seventh on home turf for Force India.
Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 world champion, finished eighth ahead of Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams and Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India.” — AFP.
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