The Formula 1 maturity certificate: Hockenheim

SEBASTIAN VETTEL : Nobody expected something like that from Sebastian Vettel: With the Hockenheim victory – his first (!) – and thus a significant increase in his championship lead in mind, the German threw away his Ferrari in the wet. A zero number that could have serious consequences in the fight for his fifth world title. On the other hand: Ferrari impressed at Hockenheim with a speed on the straight that even left a deep impression on its rival Mercedes. That's probably why Vettel quickly got back together. He knows for himself that the World Cup this year is all about him.

LEWIS HAMILTON: Depressed on Saturday, mega comeback on Sunday. The world champion put on what was probably the most spectacular race of his Formula 1 career. The numbers alone speak for themselves: the natural talent had never moved up to first place from starting position 14 before. Although the changeable conditions played into the Mercedes driver's hands, he also put pressure on Vettel, who ultimately made his fatal mistake. And he took sweet revenge on the German by winning his home Grand Prix as revenge for Silverstone.

VALTTERI BOTTAS AND KIMI RAIKKONEN: Both Finns, both on the Hockenheim podium – and both the clear number two in their teams. Like a loyal vassal, Räikkönen had to make way for his Ferrari team-mate Vettel when he called for a free ride on the pit radio with fresher tires. It's almost impossible to count how many times the former world champion was publicly demoted to Vettel's water carrier in three and a half years at Vettel's side. This has rarely been the case with Mercedes driver Bottas, but he was whistled back even more forcefully at Hockenheim. Officially, he was not supposed to attack his leading teammate Hamilton on a wet track in order not to jeopardize the double victory. Would Mercedes have reacted the same way if the order had been reversed? In this tight season, the Silver Arrows cannot give away seven points for Hamilton if they want to win the title.

MAX STAGES: 10.000 compatriots celebrated the Dutch super talent. When it began to rain, he risked switching to intermediate tires - and gambled twice: it dried out quickly, the Red Bull driver switched back to slicks, a little later it rained torrentially and the 20-year-old changed the tires again. As a result, he missed a not at all unrealistic chance of victory. In the end there was fourth place, less than ten seconds behind Hamilton. Bad luck. But “Mad Max” has found its old driving consistency again after a few crashes at the start of the season. More wins this season are quite possible.

HOCKENHEIM: Germany is by no means tired of Formula 1! 71.000 spectators came on Sunday and 165.000 over the entire weekend. No more record values like the Schumacher era, but the best numbers since the end of the Schumi hype. Economic interests and constraints on all sides must be accepted, but a solution must surely be found. In any case, there will be no Grand Prix in Vettel's home country next year.

SAYING OF THE WEEKEND: “That was the race of my life.” (Lewis Hamilton)

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The Formula 1 maturity certificate: Hockenheim

The Formula 1 weekend at the Hockenheimring offered plenty of topics to talk about. In our Monday section we take another look at the protagonists.

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