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Sunday, October 11, 2020
With his 91st victory in Formula 1, Lewis Hamilton closes with Michael Schumacher. At the Eifel Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver benefits from the failure of his fiercest competitor. Nico Hülkenberg shows a strong comeback, while Sebastian Vettel gives away the possibility of scoring points.
At Michael Schumacher’s home track, Lewis Hamilton set the Grand Prix record that the German Formula 1 icon has always held. The 35-year-old Briton won the Eifel Grand Prix on Sunday when he returned to the premier class at the Nürburgring, celebrating the 91st victory of his career. Schumacher, who 25 years ago was the first German to emerge victorious on the traditional Eifel field, had achieved so many. “What a result, thank you very much,” said Hamilton over the radio to the Mercedes box. By the 2013 season he had replaced Schumacher on the Silver Arrows.
With his success in the 11th race of the season, Hamilton approached the seventh World Cup win and Schumacher’s next record. Hamilton also benefited from a defect in the Silver Arrow of his teammate Valtteri Bottas, who started from pole, in his 150th Grand Prix. “No one can compare to Michael, not even me,” said a visibly emotional Hamilton, who gave Schumacher’s son Mick a Mercedes helmet from his legendary father and gave him goosebumps.
Max Verstappen was second at Red Bull, while Daniel Ricciardo at Renault was third. As feared, Sebastian Vettel could do nothing in his home game at the Ferrari and had to settle for eleventh place. His compatriot Nico Hülkenberg, on the other hand, was able to look forward to his eighth place during his renewed temporary assignment to Racing Point, and that from last starting position.
Vettel brakes violently
In the world championship standings, Hamilton extended his lead with his seventh win of the season. Now he has 230 points, Bottas remains in second place with 161 points. Verstappen has accumulated 147 points so far. When the red lights of a Formula 1 race went out for the first time after 2013, Hamilton looked for his chance at victory in the attack. Hamilton turned into the tight right-hand corner after brief acceleration with a minimal lead over Bottas, both of them drove him away, Bottas held his ground.
Fair but tough, they run side by side. Bottas advantage: Then came a left turn, he was inside and thus kept the lead after the passionate duel of the Silver Arrows. Verstappen, who was hoping to split the duo, was unable to do so, but together the three quickly drifted off the field.
The approximately 15,000 spectators initially had to wait a little longer for the two German pilots. Vettel, who started from eleventh, struggled to at least make it into the top ten after his start wasn’t optimal either. During an attempt to overtake the four-time world champion, he managed to brake and left the track on smoking tires. Then he had to get new tires and keep fighting.
Hulkenberg overtakes Ferrari
Hülkenberg failed to implement his announcement with a wink (“Anything but the race win would be a disappointment”). Having started from last place after his blitzen engagement, the 33-year-old regained spot after spot with a publicity trip in his own name for a contract next year.
On lap 42 there was even a German duel: Racing Point driver replacement Lance Stroll, who had to overtake due to stomach problems, was behind Vettel, who had previously complained about his tires. “Hulk” passed the Hessians in the lame red Ferrari in the pink car of the future Vettel boss (then as Aston Martin) without a hitch. And all this without any preparation for Hülkenberg.
Something happened at the top too, before that. On the twelfth lap, Bottas braked himself, Hamilton did not miss this opportunity and passed his teammate with another tough maneuver. The debris after a collision ensured a virtual safety car phase. But there was also an alarm in Bottas’ car: “I have run out of power,” the Finn radioed.
“The World Cup will be a bit difficult”
Shortly after, I received the notification from the command post: abandonment. “I lost my performance, I tried a few laps, but then I couldn’t. If Lewis wins today, it will be a bit difficult for me regarding the World Cup,” Bottas analyzed on the RTL microphone.
His teammate Hamilton lost more than two seconds on the next tire change to now chase Verstappen, but defended the lead. Bottas stared. “If Lewis wins that, it will be a bit difficult for me,” he said while the race was still underway, with a view to the World Cup.
But it should be really exciting after a while. When Lando Norris retired in the McLaren, the safety car had to be released, the field narrowed and the newly installed tires did not reach the 16 degree temperature on the asphalt. However, Hamilton gave the field no chance when Bernd Mayländer drove the safety car back to the garage and drove to the all-time record.
