HOCKENHEIM – Lewis Hamilton cruised to an unchallenged victory in Sunday’s German Formula One Grand Prix to extend his lead over Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg at the top of the world championship standings.
Hamilton seized the advantage at the start from pole-sitter Rosberg, who drove an underwhelming race in front of his home fans, and was never overtaken.
The Briton crossed the line 6.9 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, who was on the podium for the second race in a row on his 100th grand prix appearance.
His team mate Max Verstappen finished third, his fourth top-three result, to give Red Bull their first double rostrum in more than a year.
Rosberg, who had looked unbeatable after topping every practice session, was only fourth after falling back at the start and collecting a five-second time penalty for forcing Verstappen off the track.
It was Hamilton’s sixth victory in the last seven races and fourth in succession. The 49th win of the reigning champion’s career left him two adrift of Frenchman Alain Prost’s mark of 51.
He now leads Rosberg by 19 points in the standings with nine rounds of a record 21-race season remaining.
“It’s been a hard slog for everyone in the team, for the whole year and obviously with ups and downs and the difficulties that we’ve had,” said Hamilton, who trailed Rosberg by 43 points after May’s Spanish Grand Prix.
“The real strength that we’ve shown, through and through, these last races, has been inspiring for me.”
Red Bull’s strong finish on Sunday was their first double-podium result since last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix and moves them ahead of Ferrari in the constructors’ standings behind dominant Mercedes. (Reuters)
