Ladybbird

Nico Rosberg Wins German Grand Prix as Felipe Massa Crashes out in Hockenheim
-and Lewis Hamilton Secures Third Spot

• Nico Rosberg wins German Grand Prix to extend World Championships lead
• Felipe Massa collides with Kevin Magnussen on first corner to put an end to Brazilian's race
• Lewis Hamilton battled from 20th on the grid to finish third

21 July 2014


Nico Rosberg completed the week of his life with victory in the German Grand Prix on a day when Lewis Hamilton produced a backs-to-the-wall drive to limit the damage to his team-mate and title rival.

From 20th on the grid at Hockenheim, following a qualifying crash and five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change due to the damage sustained, 29-year-old Hamilton was third in his Mercedes behind Williams' Valtteri Bottas.

Rosberg's triumph was the first for Mercedes on home soil since 1954, with five-times champion Juan Manuel Fangio taking the chequered flag that day.



VIDEO Scroll down to watch some great videos of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton





Celebrate: Nico Rosberg sprays champagne after winning the German Grand Prix on Sunday





Nice to be back: Rosberg (front) Mercedes won the German Grand Prix on home soil


Married nine days ago, Rosberg then watched Germany win the World Cup final before signing a new long-term contract earlier this week, and has now recorded a lights-to-flag success in front of his own fans.
All the action unfolded behind him, with the spotlight on Hamilton given his lowly grid position in the wake of a smash in the first part of qualifying following a front-right brake disc failure.
Initally 15th for the start, Mercedes announced the gearbox change and subsequent penalty on Sunday morning ahead of the race, leaving him down in 20th and with a mountain to climb to even clamber onto the podium.
But Hamilton produced a rousing performance, limiting the damage as best as possible with third, with the gap to Rosberg now 14 points.
Over the opening laps it was captivating stuff from Hamilton, the kind of situation on which he loves and thrives.





Happy: Rosberg accepts the admiration of the German fans as Lewis Hamilton rubs his eyes (right)





In the lead: The Mercedes driver celebrates winning the German Grand Prix





Catch me if you can: Rosberg led the way after starting in pole position in Hockenheim





Well done: Rosberg embraces Dieter Zetsche (right) after winning the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim


Just 10 seconds into the race he received one helping hand when, for the second consecutive race, Williams' Felipe Massa was involved in an accident that brought his grand prix to a swift conclusion.

Unlike at the British Grand Prix when Massa was taken out following an horrific smash involving Kimi Raikkonen, on this occasion his turn into McLaren's Kevin Magnussen resulted in his own shock moment.

The Brazilian was flipped up and over, landing on the roll hoop on top of his car, which then somehow managed to right itself again.

It immediately brought the safety car into play for two laps, with Hamilton 17th upon its release, following which he can began the process of picking off those ahead of him.

By the end of lap 10 Hamilton was in the points in 10th, albeit with one moment of consternation, while former friend Adrian Sutil in his Sauber ran into the sidepod of the Briton's Mercedes, but without damage.

Then on lap 13 came a breathtaking overtake on Raikkonen and the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo into the hairpin, with the Finn squeezed as Hamilton legally edged him out of the way.


Nico Rosberg Serenaded by Fans on German Motorway:







Out: Felipe Massa crashed in the first curve of the German Formula One Grand Prix in Hockenheim





Rolling: The high-speed crash saw Massa's car flipped upside down


With pit stops, by the end of lap 16 Hamilton was up to second and 7.7 seconds adrift of Rosberg, who had already made his first stop.
It was another 10 laps before Hamilton finally made his run into the pits, taking on another set of soft Pirelli tyres - he was one of only three drivers to start off on the harder of the two compounds this weekend.
That dropped Hamilton back to eighth, but from there he began another charge, although there was again contact at one point, this time with former McLaren team-mate Jenson Button.
It proved slightly more costly as Hamilton lost his left front-wing endplate, exposing his left-front tyre to degradation.
It forced Mercedes into switching Hamilton from a planned two-stop strategy to a three, at that stage potentially scuppering his hopes of finishing runner-up to Rosberg.





Relief: The Brazilian seemed to be OK after the heavy collision with Kevin Magnussen





Heat of the moment: Daniil Kyvat was forced out of the race as his car burst into flames





Trouble behind: Rosberg leads the way as Massa crashes at the first corner


It was not long before Hamilton was back up to second as those ahead pitted prior to the Brit switching to the far quicker supersoft tyres on lap 42, dropping him to fifth.
When Adrian Sutil spun his Sauber on lap 50, leaving his car on the start-finish straight, it appeared a safety car would be called.
Mercedes, perhaps expecting as such, immediately brought in Hamilton for a longer-than-planned run on a final set of supersofts.


Hamilton and Rosberg Show Feud is Behind Them in Funny Video:







Speed: Lewis Hamilton drives during the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring





Famous faces: Bernie Ecclestone (left) chats with World Cup winner Lucas Podolski

Rosberg Plays Keepy up with Podolski:





It was not long before he was on the tail of Bottas, on fading soft-compound tyres, but as his own rubber in turn lost its initial pace so it became apparent he would be unable to pass, settling for third.

Behind the lead trio were two other world champions in Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull and Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who endured a titanic struggle with the second Red Bull of Ricciardo over the closing stages, just holding sway.

Force India's Nico Hulkenberg was seventh, followed by McLaren duo Jenson Button and Magnussen, with Sergio Perez in his Force India completing the top 10.

A thrilled Rosberg said: 'It's fantastic. 'It's an amazing feeling to win at home. It's a very special day.'




Fan: The Arsenal striker poses for a 'selfie' as the German Grand Prix gets underway





Second: Williams driver Valtteri Bottas (left) celebrates with a swig of champagne on the podium


As for Hamilton, he was obviously delighted after claiming only his second podium finish from outside the top 10 when he was also third in Brazil in 2009 after starting 17th.

'I had great fun,' said Hamilton. 'I did as good as I could.

'It was hard to get through the pack safely and I had a little bit of a collision with Jenson.

'I thought he was going to open the door, which he has done a couple of times lately, but that was my bad judgement.

'It was hard to overtake so I'm glad to get some points today (Sunday).'




Fright: Daniil Kvyat of Russia and Scuderia Toro Rosso jumps out of his car after it caught fire




All over? Hamilton did brilliantly to finish third but didn't look too pleased on the podium


VIDEOS:

Nico Rosberg Serenaded by Fans on German Motorway



Hamilton and Rosberg Show Feud is Behind Them in Funny Video



Rosberg Plays Keepy up with Podolski

__________________
PUTIN TRUMP & Netanyahu Will Meet in HELL


..................SHARKS are Closing in on TRUMP..........................







TRUMP WARNS; 'There'll Be a Bloodbath If I Don't Get Elected'..MAGA - MyAssGotArrested...IT's COMING


PLEASE HELP THIS SITE..Click DONATE
& Thanks to ALL Members of ... 1..

THIS SITE IS MORE THAN JUST WAREZ...& TO STOP SPAM-IF YOU WANT TO POST, YOUR FIRST POST MUST BE IN WELCOMES