Be that as it may, this was no wonder. This was unadulterated assurance from a driver who had solidly put his misfortune behind him. His first stretch was vital, keeping his delicate tires alive while others battled, and coordinating the Ferraris for pace on substantially more established tires even after they had set for new.
That implied Hamilton could pit for new ultra-delicate tires similarly as it began down-pouring and the track started to get elusive, and with that his pace was electric. Hamilton dependably sparkles when it downpours, and now and again he was lapping three seconds a lap quicker than those in front of him.
Indeed, even without Vettel going off it’s possible Hamilton could have won the race, such was his pace in the conditions.
He drove from the front and, excepting some needly trades between himself, the group, and partner Kimi Raikkonen, he was in total control… until lap 52.
When you are on untreaded, ‘smooth’ tires and it begins sprinkling, they are the hardest conditions in racing. There is currently enough rain to pit for treaded ‘wet’ tires – as others had done wrongly – so you simply need to crawl around on a tire that isn’t intended for the conditions, with a minor edge for mistake.
Vettel failed to understand the situation. He misinterpreted the conditions, braking past the point of no return into Sachs Kurve, a famously rebuffing corner in the Stadium segment of Hockenheim, and wound up in the divider.
He immediately began swearing and hitting the controlling wheel in disappointment and sounded nearly in tears as he apologized to the group for the crash.
It was a triple whammy of torment. Right off the bat, smashing out of the lead of the race. Furthermore, in light of the fact that it was his home race, one that implied so much and he had slammed out directly before the heft of the 120,000 fans. Thirdly, in light of the fact that he at that point needed to watch Hamilton drive perfectly to take every one of the acclamations and a 17-point title lead too.
The rain abounded down after the platform festivities, however Hamilton couldn’t have cared less. He was all the while celebrating with fans, in the midst of lightning forks and applauds of thunder.
Similar fans had cheered Vettel to pole 24 hours prior. They had seen an awesome race, as well as a fabulous execution from a driver who had experienced every one of the feelings in that same period.