German GP: 5 things we learned - Leclerc is not the finished article yet
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
After a completely bonkers German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring, which saw countless Safety Car and even more crashes, we have gathered our thoughts and penned the five things that we learned from the race. Enjoy!
1. Mercedes are human
When a team is as smoothly run as Mercedes, it's hard to remember they can actually get things wrong and they can also make bad calls or strange decisions.
Today was one of those days. Lewis Hamilton pitted six (!) times, two laps in a row on lap 28 and 29. Valtteri Bottas found himself behind Lance Stroll and Daniil Kvyat after the final Safety Car as he pitted too late.
You can't prevent things like Hamilton losing his front wing and Bottas crashing out, but the team got their tactics all wrong and overall had a weekend to forget. They are human, they are beatable. It didn't seem like it earlier this season, but here we are.
2. Charles Leclerc is not the finished article yet
There is no denying Charles Leclerc is one of the biggest talents in Formula 1 right now, but the 21-year-old is still only in his second season, meaning he lacks experience. We've seen it a few times before this season, when he crashed in Baku and when he crashed in Monaco, and today we saw it again as he slid into the wall at the very slippery turn 16 at Hockenheim.
It's no knock on Leclerc, who has all of the potential in the world, but today's crash on lap 27 was simply a reminder that he still has to learn a few things before being that unstoppable force. He'll come back stronger after this, you can bet your bottom dollar on that.
3. Verstappen is ready to challenge for titles
This season really has been all about Max Verstappen's coming of age. The Dutchman is no longer that young, borderline reckless driver who will send it down the inside when there is a small space. We loved that Max, but the current Max is simply more mature.
He picks his spots when overtaking, doesn't throw tantrums when things go wrong, and is quick to congratulate the team after a win. These things are new, and they show the still only 21-year-old is ready to lead a team to a championship. Whether he gets given a car that's able to challenge for titles is a different question, though.
4. We need more wet races in F1
After the best race in recent memory, where drivers were dropping like flies and even the most talented drivers binned their cars, one thing is for sure: we need more wet races!
Remember Brazil 2016? As fans, the rain is what gives us most spectacle and most unpredictability, and isn't that what F1 is all about? Who could've predicted a Toro Rosso on the podium and Lance Stroll in P4! In a sport that is increasingly easy to predict, this is what gets you out your seat. Let's hope Hungary will be as rainy as last season!
5. Hülkenberg should've ended his streak
One thing that has haunted Nico Hülkenberg is recent years is his record. He's the driver with most starts in F1 history without ever getting a podium. He had a lot of chances to get that podium, like in Baku last season, but something always happens.
This time, The Hülk was in P2 behind Max Verstappen and on course for an incredible result for Renault, before he lost it on the exit of T17. He rammed into the barriers, causing a Safety Car, and his tragic record will keep haunting him.
Will he ever break his streak?