The start: Fernando had qualified second fastest and was third after the opening lap. Lewis started 10th on the grid following an accident in the third part of qualifying. The reason was a damaged tyre caused by the right front wheel not fixed properly. A faulty wheel gun did not tighten the wheel nut. Lewis who did not suffer any injuries had been cleared to race by the FIA Medical Delegate Dr. Gary Hartstein and the Chief Medical Officer of the event, DR Klaus U. Zerbian on Sunday morning. He improved to fourth after the second corner.

The race: Torrential rain began to fall during the opening lap and Fernando (10.0sec) and Lewis (10.4sec) pitted for rain tyres immediately. Fernando resumed in third place whilst Lewis went off into the gravel at the first corner of the second lap. The marshals put him back on track with a crane and Lewis continued in 17th position one lap behind the leaders. On lap three, the safety car was deployed, and one lap later, the race was red-flagged after several incidents.

After about 20 minutes the race was re-started behind the safety car with Markus Winkelhock (Spyker Ferrari) in first place after he had started his first Grand Prix on rain tyres from the pitlane and taken the lead at the end of the first lap. Fernando was third and Lewis 17th and last. He was allowed to unlap himself on lap six and rejoined at the back of the field. He used this to pit for dry tyres before the safety car came in after a total of seven race laps.

On lap 11, Lewis posted the fastest lap of the race so far and one lap later, Fernando came in to pick up dry tyres (7.7sec). Lewis set two more fastest laps.
After 15 laps, Massa was in the lead ahead of Fernando and Räikkönen; all three were within less than five seconds. At the end of the field, Lewis was as fast as the front runners. On lap 34, he pitted for the third time (9.3sec); he resumed in 13th place. Fernando made his third stop on lap 37 (7.7sec) and remained second.

Lap 53: More rain. Fernando pitted for rain tyres (7.1sec) and resumed second about one lap behind Massa. Lewis came in for rain tyres on lap 54 (10.0sec). Fernando overtook Massa one lap later and took the lead.
After 60 laps, the Spaniard won 8.1sec ahead of Massa. Lewis came home ninth one lap behind.

Fernando Alonso
“This was a really exciting race for both the drivers and all the fans. The conditions were unbelievable – mainly at the start when we were just aquaplaning everywhere. In the dry conditions the Ferraris were a little faster but in the final stages when the rain started again, we were quicker and I was able to overtake Felipe to take the lead. During this battle we touched twice, but that is motor racing, and we were fighting for victory. There was a close one in the pitlane during my last stop where there was a lot of traffic, and I was side-by-side with Giancarlo. All in all a good weekend for me, and I gained valuable World Championship points for both me and the team. In difficult conditions the team did a great job.”

Lewis Hamilton
“This was an extraordinary weekend and a new experience for me. Initially I made a good start and was sixth. I got into fourth when the two BMWs went off, and I picked up a puncture and had to pit. The team took advantage of this and fitted rain tyres, but it just got too slippery and I went off. I managed to keep the engine running, and a crane was able to get me free – thank you Nürburgring Marshalls. The race was then red flagged. After the restart I pushed as much as I could to catch up, but when you are almost a lap down you really have to rely on other people’s misfortune. I was able to get ninth in the end after passing a Renault on the last lap, but no points.”

Ron Dennis
“This was motor racing at its best. Fernando did a fantastic job demonstrating why he is a double World Champion. First of all, he kept the car on the road during the first downpour. From that moment both him and the team made all the right decisions. However his second stint following the switch to dry tyres was hampered by a wing adjustment tool failing and as a result he struggled with understeer, but fortunately in his third stop we were able to properly adjust the wing, and from there his pace was fantastic. Following the final stop to fit the intermediate rain tyres he and the car came into their own and it was great to be part of such a tremendous drive and a great race win. Lewis’s race was truly eventful. Following a great start which saw him move from 10th to fourth, he picked up a puncture and immediately went into the pits.

Fortunately we were able to take advantage of this and fit the intermediate tyres but he was a little ambitious in trying to push forward in what were appalling conditions and spun, but fortunately kept the engine running. On being lifted back on the circuit he was able to continue. Following the red flag period it took a while for the time keepers to establish that he had to drive through the field and past the Safety Car. Once this was done he decided to take the gamble and fit dry tyres and refuel. Unfortunately before being able to drive to the back of the pack, the Safety Car pitted and he was quickly swallowed up by those cars that were still equipped with rain tyres. After three laps the circuit dried, and he was ultimately able to unlap himself and then set numerous fastest laps to eventually finish one place out of the points. To come away with Fernando closing the gap on Lewis and the team extending its lead in the Constructors’ Championship by two points is a great conclusion to a challenging Grand Prix.”

Norbert Haug
“The best and most exciting race of the year. In rarely seen difficult conditions. Fernando did a fantastic job and achieved a well-deserved victory. He was a class of his own in the rain. Lewis was the fastest driver in the field for many laps with a car the mechanics had repaired over night and I thank them for their great efforts. All of them worked together – Fernando’s guys and Lewis’s guys and the Mercedes engine colleagues too. It is great to win on home soil, and I am sure the spectators here and in front of the TVs enjoyed it a lot. Both drivers are at the top of the overall ranking within two points and in the Constructors’ Championship, we extended our lead to 27 points. In the first ten races we have shown reliability and everybody in the team will work hard to continue this achievement until after the end of the season.”