Hamilton snatches thrilling win

McLaren driver finishes ahead of Alonso, Webber and Vettel.

NüRBURGRING:

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton secured his second win of the year and 16th of his career when he confirmed his renaissance with a brilliant victory in the German Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old, who started from second on the grid, took the lead from the start and produced a well-judged race supported by excellent strategy to resist strong challenges from his rivals.

The 2008 champion controlled the race for long periods, but had to fight at times to retain his advantage as he came home 3.9 seconds ahead of Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari.

The two-time champion, who had won the British Grand Prix, finished a strong second ahead of third-placed Mark Webber, the pole-sitter, of Red Bull and his teammate and defending champion Sebastian Vettel, in fourth, after a brilliant final pit stop.

It was runaway leader Vettel’s worst finish of a dominant season and signalled that, at last, the Red Bull team have a battle on their hands in the second half of the year.

Brazilian Felipe Massa came home fifth for Ferrari ahead of Germans Adrian Sutil of Force India, Nico Rosberg of Mercedes and seven-time champion Michael Schumacher.

“Whooooah!” screamed a delighted Hamilton, after winning for the first time since the Chinese Grand Prix in April. “Yes that is more like it. This is great. Thank you guys, that was amazing. It was just great and we have to keep pushing. These are the results that we can get — the car was really nice to drive.” His team responded, “A fantastic job and fantastic win.”

Alonso stopped out on the track on the slow-down and had to hitch a lift, sitting on Webber’s car, back to the pit lane as he ran out of fuel.

Vettel remains in front of the title race by 77 points with 216, ahead of Webber on 139 and Hamilton, now third, on 134.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th,  2011.