Eifel Grand Prix LIVE results: Lewis Hamilton wins to equal Michael Schumacher record and stretch championship lead
Follow the latest updates from the Nurburgring as championship leader Hamilton extends his lead to 70 points with a record-equalling victory
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Your support makes all the difference.Follow the latest updates live from the Eifel Grand Prix at the Nurburgring where Valtteri Bottas starts from pole position ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
The Nurburgring’s return to the Formula One calendar for the first time in seven years has not been short on drama, with Friday’s running completely washed out and Racing Point’s Lance Stroll ruled out with illness, meaning another call-up for Nico Hulkenberg in his place.
Qualifying also produced a surprise as Bottas left his rivals in his dust, producing a lap nearly 0.4s faster than championship leader Hamilton, who just squeezed onto the front row ahead of Red Bull’s Verstappen. There was also welcome relief for Ferrari with Charles Leclerc taking fourth ahead of the second Red Bull of Alex Albon, ahead of the two Renaults, but Sebastian Vettel starts outside of the top 10 once again after qualifying 11th. Follow live updates below.
LAP 11
Vettel is off! He’s way wide on the entry to Turn One, and that’s an unusual spot to go off. Did he have to take avoiding action? Rain drops are falling…
LAP 10 STANDINGS
1. Bottas
2. Hamilton +1.2s
3. Verstappen +3.4s
4. Ricciardo +21.3s
5. Leclerc +24.8s
6. Norris +25.8s
7. Perez +26.8s
8. Ocon +25.2s
9. Sainz +33.9s
10. Giovinazzi +34.1s
LAP 9
WHAT A MOVE! Ricciardo lines up Leclerc to perfection, sending a half-hearted effort down the outside into Turn One before cutting back, getting the run and sweeping around the outside of Turn Two to take fourth place.
LAP 8
Albon is the first to pit and that’s extraordinarily early from the Red Bull boys, as he switches to the mediums and drops from sixth to last. It wasn’t a smooth stop either, as the car bogged down before leaving the box.
LAP 7
The news the drivers didn’t want to hear (but we did):
Carlos there could be a very small, very light shower in five minutes
LAP 6
Leclerc runs deep into Turn One and that gives Ricciardo a sniff of fourth place, but the Ferrari just regains position to hold on. Ricciardo is all over the back of Leclerc but the Renault doesn’t have the speed to get him on the pit straight. It’s allowing Albon and Norris to catch up behind, and this could prove a four-car battle for fourth.
LAP 5
Grosjean has one of the more bizarre incidents. Raikkonen went off in front of him, and managed to kick up some gravel that struck the Frenchman on the hand. He’s reported a lot of pain in his left hand, and says his left index finger might be broken as he cannot move it. That doesn’t sound ideal with 55 laps to go…
CLOSE ENOUGH?
Excellent driving from Bottas and Hamilton not to touch during the start.
LAP 2
Replays of the start show that Albon just clipped the left rear of Ricciardo as the Renault swept past to take fifth, with the Red Bull completely locked up and lucky to get away with just that little contact. Ricciardo meanwhile is motoring on, and he’s onto the back of Leclerc.
LAP 1
Hamilton makes a strong start and heads into Turn One in front of Bottas, albeit with his Mercedes teammate still alongside. Neither of them makes the apex! But Bottas keeps his foot in and manages to retake the lead through Turn Two as Hamilton just fends off Verstappen. Leclerc challenges the Red Bull for third but settles for fourth, while behind Ricciardo is challenging Albon, who locks up into Turn Three and concedes fifth place. Norric just fends of Perez to maintain seventh, as Bottas crosses the line with a 1.5s lead over Hamilton.
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