Hamilton pinpoints moment German GP went wrong

Lewis Hamilton reckons that the decision by Mercedes to give him slick tyres moments before it started to rain again during the German Grand Prix is the moment when his challenge for the win began to slip away.

The weather proved to be unpredictable for the whole weekend in Hockenheim, as sun and heat was initially forecast, only for the heavens to open on the day of the GP, covering the track in rainwater. Throughout the day it would stop and then start again, providing headaches for the teams with regards to tyre management.

Some decisions proved to be a masterstroke, like with Daniil Kvyat and Lance Stroll going on slicks at just the right time. It wasn’t the right time for Hamilton, though, as the rain started to pour again shortly after his tyre change, which resulted in him spinning into the barrier - an incident which ultimately cost him dearly.

"The turning point was when they put slicks on when it was still wet, as they pulled me in I could see there was more rain coming down,” he said after the race.

Hamilton 'pissed off' during German GPRead more

“But they have usually more knowledge than I do and if I said to put the inters on and it was the wrong call, it could have been costly.

"As it turns out by not telling them to put inters on when others had put slicks on and were doing OK, I think it just happened at the time when they put my slicks on at the same time as [Charles] Leclerc went off, it just started to rain more. The timing was off."

Hamilton subsequently finished outside of the top 10, only to be promoted to ninth after a penalty given to Alfa Romeo drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi.

Related

More F1 news

Latest F1 news

Aston Martin told Adrian Newey F1 move 'was never going to work'

• 37 minutes ago

Mercedes reveal new PURPLE livery ahead of Miami Grand Prix

• 1 hour ago

EXCLUSIVE: Sebastian Vettel's shock school visit as staff reveal 'remarkable' behind the scenes moment

• 2 hours ago

Miami Grand Prix at risk of chaos after weather warning

• 3 hours ago

NASCAR race stopped after massive 26-car crash brings out red flag

• Today 16:58

Shocking new Jos Verstappen rally crash footage lays bare scary incident

• Today 15:55