2018 FORMULA 1 EMIRATES GROSSER PREIS VON DEUTSCHLAND - 7/20 to 7/22
 

Kimi appears to be in the middle of contract negotiation with a middle finger. Podium likely, but I'm stretching only a little to say win.

WAG Is back with LeClerc in 7 or higher.

Voted Lewis 'cause that's what I do. :D

From Yahoo just now:Ricciardo, however, is unlikely to be on the podium, let alone win. He starts from last on Sunday because of a grid penalty (as A2 noted earlier). He incurred it because his team made changes to the hybrid system, the energy store and the electronics unit for a combined total of 20 grid positions. Still, Ricciardo plans to entertain the crowd with some trademark overtaking moves.''I prepared myself knowing I would probably take the penalties here, and I'm pretty excited to come through the field,'' the Australian driver said. ''I'll find the right perspective. For me it will be satisfying and for everyone watching it should be pretty fun as well.''Drivers are allowed to use two of each specific engine part during the season before penalties, but this is the third time Ricciardo is using each individual element. His team felt it necessary to make changes here, rather than incur penalties for doing so at the race in Hungary next weekend. Red Bull is expected to compete strongly at the Hungaroring, which is one of F1's toughest tracks to overtake on. ''We don't want to take this penalty in Budapest, for sure,'' Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache said. ''It's part of the tactical aspect.''

I thought qualifying went well, but wish a certain someone did not have the bad luck of being done in Q1. It would have made it a lot more interesting come time for Q3. As it is I thought we had a good battle in Q3. Max Verstappen did not look too dangerous in qualifying but if he can make a great start, the car is supposed to have the race pace that will keep him ahead. At this time though, it does seem like the race may be ripe for a safety car at the start given that the rear includes some of the bigger names. Coul very well be a Red and Silver podium unless Red Bull has something to say about it.

Really enjoyed the race, very few boring parts overall. Felt really bad for Daniel :(

Very pleased with the podium :D

Had it not been the team order, would Hamilton take 1st place? I thought that was completely bogus on the part of Mercedes.

- Calls Bottas in for new tires during the safety car. (great call)
- Absolutely butchered the pit. (perhaps deliberately so he comes out behind Hamilton?)
- Restart with FRESH Ultra Softs, and then calls him to stay back and hold Kimi back.
- Bottas is a great sport. But I'd go back to the garage and punt every one of the strategist and engineers in their genitals.

As for Ricciardo, yeah that sucked. His tires weren't working for the first 20 laps. And then when they did work, his car with brand new components blew up.

What about Verstappen though? First of all, if the race started 30minutes later, he would have won. We all know what he could do in the rain. And then another botched strategic call to go on the intermediates way before the rain came.

I'd say due to various reasons they asked for them to hold positions to ensure they finished with a MB 1-2, and nothing more. If roles were reversed they would've told HAM to hold position as well. If the weather wasn't dodgy and essentially a home race for MB they would've let the 2 race each other just as they have for other races.