Hamilton wins in Germany to extend championship lead

Monday, 1 August 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates after winning the race. REUTERS

Reuters: Lewis Hamilton cruised to an unchallenged victory in Sunday’s German Formula One Grand Prix to extend his lead over Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg at the top of the world championship standings.

Hamilton seized the advantage at the start from pole-sitter Rosberg, who drove an underwhelming race in front of his home fans, and was never headed.

The Briton crossed the line 6.9 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, on the podium for the second race in a row on his 100th grand prix appearance.His team mate Max Verstappen finished third, his fourth top-three result, to give Red Bull their first double rostrum in over a year.

Rosberg, who had looked unbeatable after topping every practice session, was only fourth after falling back at the start and collecting a five-second time-penalty for forcing Verstappen off the track.

It was Hamilton’s sixth victory in the last seven races and fourth in succession. The 49th of the reigning champion’s career left him two adrift of Frenchman Alain Prost’s mark of 51.

He now leads Rosberg by 19 points in the standings with nine rounds of a record 21-race season remaining.

“Get in there Lewis, great work mate. Beautiful start, fantastically managed,” the Briton’s Mercedes team said to him over the radio on the slowing down lap.

“Fantastic job guys, awesome pitstops and just throughout the weekend as always, well deserved,” Hamilton replied.

Sebastian Vettel was fifth on his first appearance in Ferrari colours on home soil, crossing the line 32.5 seconds adrift of Hamilton, with team mate Kimi Raikkonen capping a disappointing weekend for the Italian team in sixth.

Nico Hulkenberg finished seventh for Force India, ahead of Jenson Button who brought home points for McLaren in eighth.

Williams driver Valtteri Bottas was ninth ahead of Sergio Perez who handed Force India a double-points finish with 10th.

Formula One now heads into its annual summer break before reconvening for the Belgian Grand Prix.

Sunday’s result gave Hamilton, who trailed Rosberg by as many as 43 points following the Spanish Grand Prix in May, the crucial psychological edge in the title battle heading into the second half of the season.

The Briton won at the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit last year.