German GP: Lewis Hamilton Wins, Vettel Accepts Blame For Crash

Lewis Hamilton took his biggest win of the season after coming from 14th to win the German Grand Prix after race leader Sebastian Vettel crashed out with 15 laps remaining.

It was Vettel’s race to lose having led almost every lap since the start, and the rain did exactly that. A short shower made parts of the track damp and on lap 52, the German lost the car on braking and went into the barriers. The safety car that ensued gave Hamilton a chance to take the lead and take his fourth win of the season.

It was a Sunday to remember for the Mercedes team as they took a 1-2 finish with Valtteri Bottas claiming second with a composed drive. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen took the final podium position to ensure the Italian team did not lose too much ground in the Constructors’ championship.

Hamilton admitted that it was one of the best wins of his career and reflected on an emotional day after his win was confirmed following a race stewards’ investigation after he broke the pit entry rules. The Briton was initially called in when the safety car was deployed after Vettel’s crash, but aborted his entry at the last minute to rejoin the track – he was only handed a reprimand after Mercedes admitted their mistake.

"I don't remember feeling this great. I am going to try to enjoy it while it lasts. I am tired because it was a hard race,” Hamilton said before he was called by the race stewards, according to BBC. "I saw the cloud coming and then it started to spit - and as soon as it started, I was like, 'Yes, this is going to create the opportunity at the right time.' And, Jeez, it did.”

"It is a whirlwind of a season. It has been up and down. I am grateful for the ups and downs. I woke up this morning and I was like, 'I'm 14th, I don't know what I can do from there but the dream is to win,'" he said.

"We all have dreams and they just seem so impossible to reach but I have done it time and time again,” the four-time world champion added. "I had this dream to win and I can't explain how it happened but I won. It gives me the confidence to know that when I go again at something, when I have a dream and a goal, I can get there with hard work."

Vettel was furious with himself after throwing away what was a certain victory and completely accepted the blame after the race. The crash and Hamilton’s win has certainly put a massive dent in his F1 Drivers’ title hopes as the British driver regained the lead and is now a massive 17 points ahead with 10 races left until the end of the campaign.

"It was a small mistake but a big impact on the race," Vettel said. "We had the pace, controlled most of the race - just sad it ended in the sand pit. It's disappointing because up to then everything was sweet."

"It's not like tonight I will have difficulties falling asleep because of what I have done wrong," Vettel said. "I was just a tiny bit too late on the brakes, locked the front then locked the rears and couldn't turn in.

"It is something I have done wrong and I should have done better but it wasn't the biggest mistake I have done. It was probably one of the most costly ones but that's how it goes sometimes,” he added. "Apologies to the team, they did everything right, I had it in my hands, small mistake, big disappointment.”