Formula 1: Post-race driver grades after 2018 German Grand Prix
Formula 1 made its stop to the Hockenheimring for the 2018 German Grand Prix for a dramatic closer that few could predict.
Lewis Hamilton came into the German Grand Prix, the 2018 Formula 1 season’s 11th race, carrying over the bad luck that struck him at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. Hamilton was forced to start the German Grand Prix in 14th place, but he managed to put together an astounding effort to claim a significant win in a tight championship battle.
The last German Grand Prix was held in 2016 and saw Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport’s Lewis Hamilton battle with the teammate Nico Rosberg. Rosberg had qualified on pole, but Hamilton was able to steal away another victory after leading all 67 laps of the race.
The 2018 German Grand Prix was anybody’s race until the final few laps with changing weather conditions and team orders as teams vied for maximum championship points.
Here are the post-race driver grades after the 2018 German Grand Prix.
Top of the class
A+. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport driver Lewis Hamilton looked like he was going to suffer another challenging weekend after being forced to start the race in 14th place after losing hydraulic pressure to the gearbox in qualifying. He worked his way through the field methodically until he was up with the top drivers. With the possibility of rain appearing late in the race, it was the team strategy that placed him at the front of the field and team orders that allowed teammate Valtteri Bottas to help give him a significant point advantage over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in the driver standings.. No. 44. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Mercedes. LEWIS HAMILTON
Renault Sport driver Nico Hulkenberg qualified in a seventh place and needed to move forward in order to score valuable points in the always competitive mid-pack, and move forward he did. He managed to move up two places and finish the race in fifth, making him the highest-placing German in the field after Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel crashed out of the race.. No. 27. Renault Sport, Renault. NICO HULKENBERG. A
A-. Sahara Force India have seen their fair share of media attention, with rumors of buy-outs and ownership changes owning the team headlines. A good result from Esteban Ocon is part of how they can quell rumors of uncompetitive performances and doubt. Ocon qualified in a lowly 15th place but utilized smart strategy to finish the race in eighth, moving up a total of seven positions.. No. 31. Sahara Force India, Mercedes. ESTEBAN OCON
B+. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport driver Valtteri Bottas had a shot at winning the 2018 German Grand Prix by qualifying in second place. He was not quite able to match the pace of front-runner Sebastian Vettel, but he had a glimpse of hope when the Ferrari driver exited the race after making contact with the wall. Bottas challenged teammate Lewis Hamilton for the win, but he was given team orders to hold down second.. No. 77. Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Mercedes. VALTTERI BOTTAS
Scuderia Ferrari, Ferrari. KIMI RAIKKONEN. B+. Scuderia Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen also had a chance at earning a victory at the German Grand Prix. He qualified in third place and managed to challenge Valtteri Bottas on multiple occasions. Raikkonen, like Bottas, felt the hand of team orders when he was advised to not hold up teammate Sebastian Vettel, who was “on a different strategy”. Raikkonen could have been in a better position come the final safety car. He managed to finish in third.. No. 7