Max Verstappen, Daniil Kvyat and Sebastian Vettel made up a rather unexpected podium on Sunday in Hockenheim.
Max Verstappen, Sebastian Vettel and Daniil Kvyat ended a crazy F1 German Grand Prix in the top three positions on a day that saw five and six pit stops for each car and only 13 drivers completing the race distance.
Verstappen started second on the grid to Lewis Hamilton, The pole-sitter dropped the ball and finished outside of the points – the first time Hamilton has completed a race without registering a point since the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix – while the Red Bull racer survived a mid-race spin to take home the 25 points, plus a bonus point for setting the fastest lap of the race.
“It was amazing, of course, the win at the end, but it was really tricky out there to make the right calls,” said Verstappen. “You really had to be focused. We pitted onto the slick tire, had a little moment and made a nice 360. It was all about trying not to make too many mistakes. Really tricky conditions, but of course it’s amazing to win.
“It was very tricky out there. You just had to stay very alert all the time. I had a bad start, I had very low grid, and once I caught up I got stuck in dirty air which, even in the wet, is quite crazy. As soon as I was ahead, also on the inters, I think we were really quick and I was just saving tires. You can see, as soon as you have clear air, you can dictate the pace and we made a call to go onto the soft tire and from there on, with the Toro Rosso and the Racing Point behind, it’s a bit easier.”
On Saturday, Vettel had left the track completely dejected after failing to even make it out on track for qualifying. The German cut a totally different figure on Sunday however, with second place in his home race giving him an ear-to-ear grin.
“It was a long race. At some stages it felt like it was never-ending but it was a lot of fun,” said Vettel. “It was very tough with the conditions, very tough to read what was the smartest move but I’m just happy.”
Early in the race, Vettel had been heard complaining on the radio about a potential problem with his turbo, the same problem that had dumped him out of qualifying without setting a time on Saturday.
“It took a while,” said Vettel. “I don’t think there was a a problem but at the beginning with the intermediates, I really couldn’t get the hang of it. Eventually then I got going, so it’s good that the afternoon took so long.
“I stayed tidy for most of the race, but it was a long one. I don’t know if I can recap the whole race now, but congratulations to Max. He drove superb, but for us it was just go and get the next car and the next car and the next car.”
Kvyat had only scored a podium finish twice previously in his F1 career. Toro Rosso had only landed a top-three finish once (Vettel at Monza in 2008). For Kvyat, it was an especially perfect weekend as he and his partner Kelly Piquet, daughter of three-time champion Nelson Piquet, announced that their first child had been born the night before the race.
“It was amazing,” said Kvyat. “Amazing to be back on the podium. Incredible for Toro Rosso. After so many years to bring a podium to the team is amazing. The race was crazy and finally I managed to put everything together to get this podium together and I’m really happy.”
Asked about the race as a whole and the conditions, Kvyat added, “It was a horror movie with a bit of black comedy. It was a tough one. I thought the race was done for me and then it came alive again, which was incredible for me, a rollercoaster. A bit like a Red Bull career.”
Source: Read Full Article