Lewis Hamilton's victory at the 2008 German Grand Prix extended his Drivers' Championship lead over Massa and Räikkönen by executing a two-stop strategy amid safety car chaos.
Key Facts
- Race
- 10th round of 2008 Formula One World Championship
- Laps
- 67
- Winner
- Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
- 2nd Place
- Nelson Piquet Jr. (Renault)
- 3rd Place
- Felipe Massa (Ferrari)
- Championship lead after race
- Hamilton 4 pts ahead of Massa, 7 ahead of Räikkönen
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Hamilton started from pole position and held an early lead, but the race's strategic complexity was set in motion when Timo Glock crashed on lap 36, triggering a safety car period. Hamilton, already committed to a two-stop strategy, chose not to pit under the safety car while rivals around him did, dropping him temporarily to fifth place.
The 2008 German Grand Prix was held on 20 July 2008 at the Hockenheimring over 67 laps. Hamilton overtook Kovalainen, then Massa, and finally Piquet in the closing stages, also gaining a position from Heidfeld's late pit stop, to retake the lead on lap 60 and win the race.
The victory gave Hamilton his second consecutive win following the British Grand Prix. It moved him four points clear of Massa and seven ahead of Räikkönen in the Drivers' Championship. In the Constructors' Championship, McLaren closed to within 15 points of leaders Ferrari, with BMW Sauber sitting between them.