German Grand Prix - Lap by Lap Highlights

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Welcome to German Grand Prix, from the Nurburgring Circuit

30mins into the race:

Track Temp: 22degCel Air Temp: 14degCel

Track is dry at the moment but lots of cloud gathering. Rain in few moments. Drivers are getting ready for reaching the race track.

25mins into the race:

Its raining in the pit lane.

Just to remind you, Sebastien Buemi time for qualifying has been stripped for fuel irregularity and will be starting at the back of the grid. Vitantonio Liuzzi had a five place grid penalty for a gear box change.

Karun Chandhok will be driving for the first time in 2011 as he replaces Jarno Trulli for the race.

As Nico Rosberg driver to the track, he slides wide off the track due to the little slippery track. Reached the racing line sound and safe.

15mins into the race:
Everybody on track safe and sound. Rain has stopped for the moment. It will probably a dry start. Intermediates will be better for the drivers to start the race.

Formation Lap:

Track Temp. 15degCel Air Temp. 13degCel

Order on Track:
Webber, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Massa, Rosberg, Button, Sutil, Petrov, Schumacher, Heidfeld, Di Resta, Maldonado, Barrichello, Perez, Alguersuari, Kobayashi, Kovalainen, Glock, Chandhok, D’Ambrosio, Ricciardo, Liuzzi, Buemi

Single DRS Zone with Detection at Turn 10 and activation at Turn 11.

DRS will be enabled only when FIA/Stewards find it suitable as uncertain weather in Nurburgring.

5.148km of track.

All the top 10 starters on the soft compound tyres.

Track is dry at the moment.

Lap 1:

Good start for Hamilton. Both the Ferrari's are side by side to Vettel covering him but he manage to stay ahead. Vettel is inside of Alonso.

There is a spin in the middle sector, It look likes Paul Di Resta has spun his car. Hamilton leads the pack. Button dropped to 9th. Alonso up in 3rd. Schumahcer battling for P8 with Petrov.

Heidfeld and Di Resta hit each other and are back of the pack may be with some damage on the car.

Lap 2:

Alonso slides wide at turn 1 and went onto the grass and gifted P3 to Vettel.

Schumacher gained a place from Petrov.

Order on Track:

Hamilton, Webber, Vettel, Alonso, Rosberg, Massa, Sutil, Schumacher, Petrov, Button, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Maldonado, Alguersuari, Perez, Kovalainen, Glock, Buemi, Liuzzi, D’Ambrosio, Ricciardo, Heidfeld, Di Resta, Chandhok

Lap 3:

DRS Enabled.

Lap 4:

Hamilton leading the pack.

Sebastian Vettel set the fastest lap (Lap 3) with 1min 38:322sec.

Massa is advised to push hard and pass Rosberg as he may ruin his race.

Lap 5:

Webber set the fastest lap (Lap 4) as 1min 38:189sec.

Di Resta making his move, and gaining places at the back. He is now in 20th. Heidfeld already in P18. Buemi who started at the back of the grid is now P17. Schumacher now attacking Sutil. Massa is pushing hard to overtake Rosberg. He just went past him, but lost the place on the corner.

Lap 6:

Alonso attacking on Vettel on turn 1. Let us wait to see DRS zone coming up.

Webber set the fastest lap (Lap 5) as 1min 37:659sec.

Webber is only 1.2sec behind the race leader Hamilton. Alonso could not get it this time around. Di Resta is now behind Heidfeld at P19.

Chandhok is currently running last in P24.

Lap 7:

Webber is closing in on Hamilton quickly. Alonso still on 4th.

Order on Track:

Hamilton, Webber, Vettel, Alonso, Rosberg, Massa, Sutil, Schumacher, Petrov, Button, Kobayashi, Barrichello, Maldonado, Alguersuari, Perez, Buemi, Heidfeld, Di Resta, Kovalainen, Glock, Liuzzi, D’Ambrosio, Ricciardo, Chandhok

Lap 8:

Alonso wheel to wheel with Vettel on turn 1. Gets an inside line. Brakes and overtake Vettel for P3. Superb driving by the Spaniard.

Heidfeld up in P17. Button lost a lot of ground. He is having problem with the car. Kobayashi is already up in 11th after starting from 17th.

Di Resta is making his way on to Kovalainen at back for P17.

Lap 9:

Perez is in pits. First man to get into the pits. Its a routine pitstop. Very early stop for him.

Rosberg still holding Massa and Vettel struggling for pace and reliability. Vettel spun his car as puts his car onto the sideline. Vettel lucky to escape this high speed spin. He dropped 7sec from the Alonso but manages to stay in 4th.

Lap 10:

Alonso set the fastest lap (Lap 9) as 1min 37:647sec.

Lap 11:

Nick Heidfeld is out. He hit at the back of the Toro Rosso of Buemi as Buemi comes sideways onto the final corner. He went flying into the air straight into gravel trap. His race is over.

Lap 12:

Massa is wheel to wheel on turn 1. Massa gets an inside line. He hold Rosberg and the cars just kissed each other. Rosberg backoff no damage done. Massa overtakes him on Turn 1 to get into P5.

Vettel is gaining lap times as he gain 1.2sec on Alonso. Webber closing in on Hamilton 0.5sec is the gap between the two.

Webber closing in on Hamilton, takes the lead on the final corner. Will he going to maintain it as both comes onto the straight finish line.

Lap 13:

Hamilton having more speed than Webber as both are again wheel to wheel on first corner. Hamilton takes the inside line and gain position back from Webber. Superb driving from both the drivers. Just driving to the limits. But look behind, its Alonso who gained from this battle the most as he has inched closer to both the front runners.

Lap 14:

Alonso attacking Webber. Just miss on turn 1. Only 0.3sec behind Webber. Watch out for the DRS zone. Alonso on gravel a little, his tyres are wearing off quickly as he tells the team on radio.

Webber and Alonso both activates the DRS. It is a threeway fight for 1st position.

Tyres are ready in the Red Bull camp. Webber enters in the pit.

Lap 15:

Webber comes out of the pits. Dropped to P6. It was a 3.5sec pitstop. Massa closing in on Vettel for P3. Button trying his way on Petrov. Webber and Rosberg made their first stops. More soft for both the drivers. They are on 3 stop strategy.

Lap 16:

Webber overtakes Sutil for P5. Schumacher in pits for 1st stop. Barrichello retired due to engine failure.

Lap 17:

Hamilton and Alonso in pits. Lets wait to see who will come out ahead. Vettel in pits too. Watch out for Webber from P4. Massa still to make stop.

Massa leads the pack now as Webber takes P2. Hamilton and Alonso stay in order but it will be Webber who will take the lead from Massa. Red Bull is back in top position.

Order on Track:

Massa, Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Sutil, Button, Petrov, Kobayashi, Vettel, Rosberg, Schumacher, Alguersuari, Di Resta, Maldonado, Kovalainen, Perez, Glock, Liuzzi, Buemi, Ricciardo, D’Ambrosio, Chandhok

Lap 18:

Massa dives into the pits. Webber leads the race for the first time this season. He had set pole three times but never lead a race.

Alonso is trying his way past Hamilton. Massa comes out ahead of Vettel in P8. Sutil, Button, Petrov, Kobayashi all are in top 10 who are still to make their first stop.

Lap 19:

Webber set the fastest lap (Lap 18) as 1min 36:947sec.

Lap 20:

Hamilton set the fastest lap (Lap 19) as 1min 36:718 responded to the Webber time. Massa battling for P7 with Kobayashi. Kobayashi started in 17th position. He is still to make his first stop.

Massa overtakes Kobayashi, so is Vettel for P7 and P8. Kobayashi dropped to P9.

Order on Track:

Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Sutil, Button, Petrov, Massa, Vettel, Rosberg, Schumacher, Kobayashi, Alguersuari, Di Resta, Maldonado, Perez, Kovalainen, Buemi, Glock, Liuzzi, Ricciardo, D’Ambrosio, Chandhok

Lap 21:

Webber set another fastest lap (Lap 20) as 1min 36:585sec.

Sutil in P4 currently for Force India. Sutil, Button, Petrov still to make their first stop.

Massa chasing Petrov, he overtakes him. Vettel on his way to catch Petrov now. Both the drivers easily get past Petrov for P6 & P7.

Two Mercedes are now running in P9 and P10 following Petrov who is currently in P8.

Lap 23:

Webber set the fastest lap (Lap 22) as 1min 36:532sec.

Rosberg and Schumacher passes Petrov for P8 and P9. Petrov still not making a pitstop though his lap time has degraded.

Schumacher trying his way on his teammate Rosberg at the same time as they pass Petrov but did not able to make it.

Sutil dives into pits from P4. Dropped to 10th. Di Resta in 12th. Still to make his first stop.

Lap 24:

Webber set the fastest lap (Lap 23) as 1min 36:380sec.

Glock in pits. Schumacher spin the car. He rejoins and dropped to P11. He puts his car onto the slippery side of the track and car remain stationary for few seconds.

Schumacher spun in the same position as Vettel did earlier.

Petrov, Alguersuari make their first stop. Button still to make stop among front runners.

Lap 25:

Button dives into pit from P5. Button comes out in P8. Sutil up in P7. Rosberg in P6 while Vettel in P5.

After all the stops, the action pack order is:

Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Vettel, Rosberg, Sutil, Button, Schumacher, Kobayashi, Maldonando, Perez, Petrov, Alguersuari, Kovalainen, Di Resta, Buemi, Glock, Liuzzi, Ricciardo, D’Ambrosio, Chandhok

Lap 26:

Alonso set the fastest lap (Lap 25) as 1min 36:258sec.

Schumacher trying hard. 8sec behind Button. Vettel is asked to move the brake bias forward as they have some mechanical problem with the car.

Lap 27:

Hamilton in 1sec of Webber. Kovalainen is the only driver still to make his 1st stop. Hamilton locking the brakes.

Lap 28:

kovalainen in pits now.

Button is closing in on Sutil quickly for P7.

Lap 29:

Button is now in contention to overtake Sutil. Di Resta in other Force India is P15.

Kobayashi attacking on Schumacher for P9. Alonso was advised to stop closing in as to maintain tyres.

Lap 30:

Alonso set another fastest lap (Lap 29) as 1min 36:252sec.

Yellow flag out. Karun Chandhok spins the car into the gravel trap. Just manage to get hold of it and back on track and went straight into the pits.

30mins into the rain is the weather forecast.

Lap 31:

Webber in pits from P1. Dropped to P3. Thus this early stop do some favour for him.This is the second routine stop for Webber. He is the first front runner to make second stop.

Lap 32:

Hamilton went into the pits. Drops to P2. Comes just ahead of Webber. Webber goes wheel to wheel with Hamilton on turn 1, gets the inside line also. But Hamilton keeps himself up and gets a track position ahead of Webber. That Mclaren is handling so perfectly in this kind of weather condition.

Button overtakes Sutil for P7.

Lap 33:

Alonso in pits from the race lead this time around. Stays in P1. Amazing stuff out there. Ferrari had done it. But wait, Hamilton just goes wheel to wheel with Alonso and overtakes him as he carry more speed while Alonso car Pirelli tyres are not upto the temperature. Hamilton takes the lead again. Webber charging in on Alonso.

Lap 34:

Hamilton set the fastest lap (Lap 33) with 1min 35:224sec. All the top 3 drivers have made their second stop. This cold weather conditions are adding toll on tyres which are not meant for this type of condition. Pirelli takes time to get the optimum temperature into the tyres. But it seems that this weather is favouring Mclaren.

Lap 35:

Hamilton set the fastest lap (Lap 34) as 1min 35:117sec.

Webber makes a mistake and slide wide a little and lost momentum. Vettel in P5. Massa in P4 ahead of Vettel.

Lap 36:

Hamilton set another fastest lap in series (Lap 35) as 1min 35:083sec.

Button has to retire due to Hydraulic problem. He was told on the radio to get the car back in pits. He retired and gets back into pits. Sad ending for Button. He was struggling all weekend. This is the 2nd consecutive retirement for him.

Lap 37:

Hamilton set another fastest lap (Lap 36) as 1min 35:063sec. Rosberg in pits. Dropped to 9th position.

Lap 38:

Schumacher up in 7th position. Schumacher in pits now. Mercedes are maintaining a regular stop for both drivers. He dropped to 12th position. 3.6sec of pitstop for him. Both the Mercedes on 3 stop strategy. Another soft for them.

Lap 39:

Hamilton has opened substantial lead on Alonso and Webber. Kobayashi currently being chased by Rosberg for P7.

Lap 40:

There might be rain in the closing stages of the race. Rosberg overtakes Kobayashi for P7 on Turn1. Rosberg slide a little wide as he brakes but maintain the position.

Lap 41:

Vettel in pits from P5. Retains position, comes ahead of German Adrain Sutil of Force India who is currently running in P6. Force India are looking quite strong. Seems like point finish for them today.

Schumacher is fighting for P11 with Alguersuari. Passes Alguersuari on turn 1 in similar fashion as Rosberg did on Kobayashi.

Lap 42:

Massa in pits now from P4. Watch out for him, where he comes out in terms of Vettel. Stayed in P4. massa locks tyres on Turn 1 as brings them on optimum temperature. Vettel charging on Massa for P4. Comes on tail of Massa.

Force India Di Resta in P12 while Schumacher now up in P10 by overtaking Perez.

Vettel locks up in final corner as he try hard on Massa. Vettel missed the chicane but slow down the car to let Massa pass.

Lap 43:

Rain will be coming in few minutes time. All the drivers are advised to stay more on their softs as it will be difficult to go into 4stops if switched to hard one.

Schumacher in pursuit of Petrov for P9.

Lap 44:

Vettel is told that brakes are now working fine for him. Both the Force India still to make their second stop. Massa gets onto the grass on the chicane as he try hard to remain ahead. No suspension damage on his car as it is seen from here.

Lap 45:

Vettel charging on Massa. DRS zone coming up. He is now on his tail.

Lap 46:

Schumacher is presurring Petrov ahead of him. DRS activated on Schumacher car. He make use of the full KERS. Schumacher passes Petrov gets the inside line but Petrov miss the chicane gets back the position from Michael. He has to give his position back to Michael now. It seems he is not slowing down, they are wheel to wheel again on 1st corner. Petrov backoff. Schumacher now up in P8.

Hamilton is about to lap Petrov who is currently running in 9th position.

Lap 47:

Petrov is up for pitstop. Petrov in pits. Lapped by Hamilton. He dropped to 11th now. Di Resta up in 10th but still to make his second stop.

Lap 48:

Vettel set the fastest lap suddenly (Lap 47) as 1min 34:567sec.

Just 0.8sec behind Massa now. Vettel set the first fastest lap of the race. Massa is told on the radio about the fastest lap set by Vettel.

Lap 49:

Sutil in pits now for his 2nd and final stop. 11laps remaining. He comes out in P7 behind Rosberg. Kobayashi also in pits from P9. Di Resta still to make his second stop.

Order on Track:

Hamilton, Alonso, Webber, Massa, Vettel, Rosberg, Sutil, Schumacher, Di Resta, Kobayashi, Petrov, Perez, Alguersuari, Maldonando, Buemi, Kovalainen, Glock, D’Ambrosio, Liuzzi, Ricciardo, Chandhok

Lap 50:

Massa locked up on turn 1. Vettel real close on the tail of Massa. Glock in pits.

Lap 52:

Hamilton in pits from P1. Final pitstop for him. Dropped to P3. Alonso leads the pack now. Ricciardo in pits. Kovalainen in pits too.

Di Resta in pits from P9. Comes out in P13. Alonso was told to push as he lost some tiime. Ferrari getting ready for final stop.

Lap 53:

Alonso dives into pits. Alonso joins in P3. Webber leads the race.

Lap 54:

Vettel trying his way on Massa for P4. Rosberg in pits for final stop from P6. Webber is told to push.

Lap 55:

Rosberg dropped to P8 behind Sutil and Schumacher.

German Adrian Sutil for Force India is in 6th position. Schumacher in P7. Schumacher still to make his final stop.

Lap 56:

Five laps remaining:

Webber, Vettel, Massa, Schumacher still to stop. Webber is pushing hard on those soft tyres.

Lap 57:

Webber in pits. Comes out in P3. 3.7sec of stop. So its clear, Hamilton on top, with Alonso behind him and Red Bull Mark Webber in 3rd position.

Lewis heading towards second win of the season.

Schumacher in pits. He comes out in P8 behind teammate Rosberg. Good job done by Mercedes. Schumacher fought hard for those points after an early spin.

Lap 58:

3 Laps remaining.

Massa and Vettel still to make their final stop. They probably making at the same time. Ferrari is getting ready for pitstop. So is the Red Bull.

Lap 59:

2 Laps Remaining:

They both stayed out. They were told to pit but they stayed. It will be a race to remember. They have to pit in now, as no driver could make a stop after the race in finished.

World Champion is given a go for 4th position by Massa. Red Bull told Vettel to pit in if Massa stays out or to stay out if Massa comes in. But to the surprise both stayed out.

Lap 60:

Final Lap:

Hamilton set the fastest lap of the race (Lap 59) as 1min 34:302sec.

Massa and Vettel in pits together. Battle for P4.

Ohhh, Red Bull did it... Massa dropped to P5 in pits. They have blown it in the pits. Ferrari lost a place. Vettel out of podium for the first time this season. This is the worst finish for him this season. What a pity for Massa.

Force India Adrian Sutil is heading for points as he is going to finish in 6th position.

Chequered Flag:

Lewis Hamilton takes the chequered flag. 16th Grand Prix victory and this will be a sweet one to remember. 2nd of the season. Only driver to win two time this season behind Sebastian Vettel.

World Champion Sebastian Vettel finished on P4 but still the home hero had done it on Lap 60.

Force India Sutil finishes P6 ahead of the two Germans in Mercedes Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher.

Total time by Lewis Hamilton - 1hr 37min 30:334secs.

Final Classification:

1.) Lewis Hamilton 2.) Fernando Alonso 3.) Mark Webber 4.) Sebastian Vettel 5.) Felipe Massa 6.) Adrian Sutil 7.) Nico Rosberg 8.) Michael Schumacher 9.) Kamui Kobayashi 10.) Vitaly Petrov 11.) Sergio Perez 12.) Jaime Alguersuari 13.) Paul Di Resta 14.) Pastor Maldonado 15.) Sebastien Buemi 16.) Heikki Kovalainen 17.) Timo Glock 18.) Jerome D'Ambrosio 19.) Daniel Ricciardo 20.) Karun Chandhok

Only 6drivers were on the lead lap. Chandhok last and 4 lap down.

Fernando Alonso stopped on the slowing down lap. He is told to stop now otherwise no fuel left for fuel sample.

Amazing teamspirit, Fernando Alonso is given a ride on the sidepod by Mark Webber on the Red Bull.

Lewis Hamilton could not wait to meet his team, as he jumps above the stand area.