Five talking points from an unforgettable Eifel GP

Nürburgring offers a tough challenge

As soon as the German circuit was confirmed for an October date in this strange – but also strangely refreshing – season, F1 watchers ringed it with a big red circle. The weather would undoubtedly play a part, and the biting temperatures too. And for all the criticism the track faced in its early years, in the shadow of the majestic Nordschleife, it can now truly be considered properly ‘old-school’: rough and ready compared to some of the modern circuits, with the kind of character to throw up a properly tough grand prix.

That it was, as Hamilton acknowledged after taking the flag for his historic 91^st victory. Credit was due too to his team-mate. Valtteri Bottas proved once more that over one lap, he’s Hamilton’s equal, as he delivered a brilliant pole position on Saturday. The next day, Lewis might have made the better start, but how Bottas refused to yield and came back at him through Turn 2 showed his true grit, as Hamilton duly noted afterwards.

But the lock-up into Turn 1 that cost him the lead and the subsequent failure of his MGU-H, marking the first non-finish for Mercedes this season, also somehow summed up what Bottas stands for right now. Nothing quite goes his way when he’s up against the greatest driver of this generation, and now the championship is all but done (if it wasn’t already). The gap is now 69 points. Before long it seems inevitable that Hamilton will eclipse Schumacher’s win record, then match his seven titles. Once upon a time, most of us thought these were records that might stand forever. We are living in remarkable times, and not just for unhappy, difficult reasons.

Verstappen running Hamilton closer

“They’re getting fast, man. We gotta keep pushing.” Hamilton’s message to the pitwall about Max Verstappen and his rapid Red Bull certainly sounded genuine, even if the Dutchman was always just short of the pace to really take it to the Mercedes.

The late safety car, as Lando Norris’s broken McLaren was removed from the side of the track, certainly added extra spice and brought Verstappen within range of Hamilton. But the leader handled the restart with typical clarity of purpose, getting the jump on the run to the chicane and avoiding any tyre-locking embarrassments into the final turn. Instead it was Verstappen who almost overdid it on cold tyres on a freezing day – and he didn’t appreciate the perceived tardiness of the safety car interruption.

Max took the point for fastest lap on the last lap – but for all of Hamilton’s fears, the fact remains that Red Bull is still lacking that final edge to beat Mercedes on pure pace.

“Is that a podium, boys?”

Daniel Ricciardo’s cute rhetorical question as he crossed the line marked a special moment for a Renault team that has been through the wringer since the French manufacturer returned as a full works team in 2016. This was its first podium finish after nearly five years of toil and it clearly meant a great deal.

Of course, Ricciardo would have been fourth rather than third without Bottas’s misfortune, but still he has driven beautifully in what will be his final season for Renault before he moves to McLaren for 2021. “It feels like the first one all over again,” he said as he stepped up to spray the champagne for the first time since his Monaco win in 2018.

The tattoo team principal Cyril Abiteboul must now endure to see through his wager with Ricciardo will literally leave a lasting mark – but Daniel himself will be hard to forget at Enstone. Fernando Alonso? It’s fantastic he’s coming back. But it would be so much better if he was returning to partner Ricciardo. This team will miss him.

Perez shows what Racing Point is throwing away

Not for the first time this season (and probably not for the last), Sergio Perez highlighted just why his F1 future shouldn’t be hanging in the balance right now – and rubbed in just what a poor decision it might turn out to be for the team soon to be known as Aston Martin to have rejected him in favour of Sebastian Vettel.

Perez was in strong contention for that final podium position and drove an exceptional race, mixing it with the McLarens and Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari. But fourth was still a great reward for such a performance, as Vettel once again toiled for Ferrari. The spin at Turn 1, when he just lost grip under braking, must have been humiliating for a man who won at the Nürburgring the last time F1 was here, in 2013. His voice as he radioed back to the team to explain a bump had caught him out gave away his true feelings. It’s a little sad to watch him right now. On merits of performance in the here and now, there’s no question who is the better prospect when it comes to Perez and Vettel. The Mexican deserves better.

Hülkenberg’s fine cameo

Finally, a word or two for Nico Hülkenberg. On Saturday morning he was in Cologne enjoying a coffee with a friend when his phone rang. Otmar Szafnauer? What does he want? A fast car ride later and Hülkenberg was stepping into an unwell Lance Stroll’s Racing Point to compete in a grand prix he was expecting to watch as a TV pundit.

Qualifying last without a shred of preparation was absolutely understandable. Twenty minutes to get up to speed, even if the Racing Point is a quick racing car? That was a tough ask. But on race day, Nico displayed all his experience to deliver points in a fine eighth place. Sure, there had been some retirements ahead of him, but Hülkenberg had pitched up and delivered exactly what the team needed, when it needed. You can’t ask for more than that.

Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.