Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of the German Grand Prix.
Qualifying was a mixed bag in terms of the weather, with a little bit of everything. It started out dry before the rain came and saturated the track. However, a dry race has been forcast.
Fernando Alonso will start on pole, ahead of homegrown favourite, and reigning champion, Sebastian Vettel.
The Spaniard will be aiming to stretch his 13-point lead at the top of the Drivers Championship at the Hockenheimring this afternoon.
Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher is third on the grid and will be dreaming of making a podium on his home turf. The 43-year-old has profited from Mark Webber's five-place grid penalty for a change of gear box.
Another German, Nico Hulkenberg, will start behind Schumacher. Then comes Pastor Maldonado, Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Paul Di Resta and Kimi Raikkonen to make up the rest of the top ten.
14.47Thanks for joining us here at Sports Mole for the live commentary of this event. Join us next time for the Hungarian Grand Prix. Until then, take care!
14.45So, that's all from the Hockenheimring. We will wait on the stewards enquiry into Vettel's move on Button with two laps to go. It won't make a difference to Alonso and the champagne will taste sweeter than it did at Silverstone. He takes his third victory in the German Grand Prix.
14.44Alonso hoists the winner's trophy. A well deserved victory.
14.42So Alonso pulls 34 points clear of Mark Webber in the Drivers Championship. Webber finished in 8th position.
14.38Vettel did go wide and left the track. We await the decision, but it is Vettel who will stand second on the podium. The wait for the reigning champion's first win on home turf goes on.
14.38The stewards are investigating Vettel's move on Button. He could incur a penalty.
14.35Dominating drive from Alonso, who wins from pole position. Vettel comes across in second, with Button taking third on the podium.
Lap 67FERNANDO ALONSO WINS THE GERMAN GRAND PRIX!
Lap 67The podium looks settled now. Alonso is about to stretch his lead at the top of the Drivers Championship.
Lap 67FINAL LAP!
Lap 66Vettel attacks Button! He goes around the outside and Button tries to hang on... but fails! Vettel has out-manoeuvred the McLaren and is back up into second!
Lap 65Alonso has never really looked in doubt here. There was a moment when it looked like Button may have been able to catch him, but the Spaniard looks to have this race all but won. The battle is on for second though!
Lap 64Alonso's lead is now over two seconds. Button is ahead of Vettel by 0.4 seconds. It seems as though the McLaren has some defending to do.
Lap 64Schumacher is gaining some time on Perez for 6th. Vettel has closed to gap on Button considerably!
Lap 63Five laps remaining! As it stands: Alonso, Button, Vettel, Raikkonen, Kobayashi, Perez, Schumacher, Webber, Hulkenberg, Rosberg, Di Resta, Ricciardo, Massa, Vergne, Maldonado, Petrov, Senna, Grosjean, Kovalainen, Pic, Glock, De La Rosa, Karthikeyan.
Lap 61Six laps to go and the top three are separated by gaps of 1.3 seconds.
Lap 60Button lost time to Alonso and Vettel on the last lap.
Lap 59Alonso was in this position at Silverstone with the exact same problem. It was Webber who managed to squeeze in front last time, this time it is Button who is lurking.
Lap 58Hamilton retires from the race. It has been a disappointing day personally, but he helped out his teammate Jenson Button. So it has not been all bad...
Lap 58Schumacher has set 1:18 now and he is motoring!
Lap 57The gap between Alonso and Button is 0.711. Schumacher sets a fastest lap at 1:19.000.
Lap 55Hamilton is now behind Vettel... but he is in 18th place.
Lap 54The McLaren team believe that Button's tyres have three more laps on them than Alonso's. They also feel the race could be won in the final five laps. It looks like we're in for a thrilling finish!
Lap 52The rubber on the track owes greatly to the track temperature, which is now at the hottest it has been all race. Tyre degredation is key from now until the end. It may well decide the fate of this race.
Lap 51The graphic shows that Button's last pit stop was timed at 2.4 seconds. Rapid, to say the least.
Lap 50On a new set of mediums compounds, Kobayashi has set the fastest lap of the race. He has driven brilliantly today.
Lap 50It has been a textbook performance from Alonso so far. No drama on his part, he is making serene progress.
Lap 48Top ten as it stands: Alonso, Button, Vettel, Raikkonen, Schumacher, Kobayashi, Perez, Rosberg, Webber, Di Resta
Lap 46A good little scrap between Kobayashi and Hulkenberg. The Sauber manages to pass the Force India, as has been the case for the race so far.
Lap 45The gap between Alonso and Button is now under a second. Button is cutting that lead down bit by bit!
Lap 44Kobayashi pits and is a second away from colliding with a Lotus that was also making its way out of the pits. Close call...
Lap 44The gap from alonso to Button is just 1.2 seconds.
Lap 43Vettel goes wide through turn one! Button gains a few seconds and will be gunning for Alonso now.
Lap 42The cars were neck and neck as Vettel came out of the pits but Button managed to get his nose in front! Vettel then mounts an attack on the next corner but Button closes the door!
Lap 41Button is past the lapped Romain Grosjean. Alonso and Vettel both come in with Button on fresh tyres in third. Both drivers are quick out but Botton manages to get past Vettel into 2nd! Drama!
Lap 41McClaren pit crew are out for Button. He comes in for new tyres. Swift change and he retains his position. Red Bull are getting ready for Webber. Raikkonen sets a new fastest lap.
Lap 40Vettel can't get any throttle from the turns after losing his KERS.
Lap 39Hamilton is being a bit of a nuisance for Alonso. However, Hamilton can't quite get into position.
Lap 38Hamilton is now trying to unlap Alonso. Vettel has lost his KERS and has fallen well behind Alonso now. Button is gaining on 2nd...
Lap 37Schumacher pits and returns to the track in 8th.
Lap 36Button is now one and a half seconds behind Vettel. Maybe Hamilton can hold the German up a bit.
Lap 36Hamilton unlaps himself against Vettel and the McLaren driver is pulling away from the Red Bull. He may be trying to do his teammate a favour. Teamwork.
Lap 34Just past halfway now. Alonso still leading Vettel and Button. then comes Raikkonen, Schumacher, Perez, Kobayashi, Webber, Di Resta and Maldonado to complete the top ten. Great race so far.
Lap 34Alonso and Vettel lap Hamilton at the back. Button is now coming up on his teammate...
Lap 33Kobayashi rounds Webber for 7th. A great piece of driving from the Sauber!
Lap 33Fourth-placed Raikkonen wants to pit for a new set of medium compounds, but is being told that he needs to get four more laps off the soft.
Lap 31Perez sails past Hulkenberg... finally! The Mexican is up into 6th now. Webber is also past Hulkenberg and into 7th.
Lap 30Hamilton is in 18th after his tyre trouble and subsequent pit stop in the third lap.
Lap 30Vettel is getting closer, but this is where Alonso likes to be. When in front and defending, he is a master of the art.
Lap 29A little bit of wheel lock from Hulkenberg but Perez brakes too late and can't apply any pressure.
Lap 28Button sets the fastest lap of the race.
Lap 27Alonso looks untroubled in the lead. However, Vettel has started to make some time on the Spaniard onver the last three laps. The gap is now at one second.
Lap 27Perez is still battling with Hulkenberg. The Mexican can't quite seem to get around the Force India.
Lap 26Kobayashi overtakes Di Resta after an exchange. He's now in 9th.
Lap 24Kobayashi is back out in 10th. Rosberg is putting pressure on Maldonado for 11th place.
Lap 23Perez is lurking behind Hulkenberg, waiting for the mistake. Looks like it could be another great head to head!
Lap 23As expected, Kobayashi comes in for new tyres. So it's Alonso, Vettel, Button in 1, 2, 3...
Lap 22Perez has a look at Hulkenberg, who doesn't give him an inch.
Lap 21Webber takes advantage of Maldonado's mistake. The Venezuelan went a bit too wide on the hairpin and Webber got ahead. Vettel comes in to pit and he rejoins behind Alonso and Kobayashi.
Lap 20Webber is struggling somewhat here. He doesn't seem to be making any headway. Button pits for a new set of tyres. He rejoins behind Kobayashi, who is yet to pit. Perez sets the fastest lap of the race. It's all happening!
Lap 19Alonso pits and is on the medium compounds now. Vettel in front, but is due to pit for a tyre change himself...
Lap 18Perez pits, so Kobayashi moves up.
Lap 18Kobayashi is in fifth, ahead of Ricciardo, Schumacher, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg and Maldonado.
Lap 18The gap between Alonso and Vettel is growing slowly. It's now at 2.2 seconds.
Lap 17Perez is now in fourth behind Button and is going faster than both Alonso and Vettel. He is yet to pit for new tyres, as is Button...
Lap 16Schumacher launces a counter at Hulkenberg and slips back in front. Raikkonen also gets infront of Hulkenberg as well!
Lap 15Hulkenberg overtakes Schumacher and is now in 7th.
Lap 14Webber has pitted for a tyre change. He is back out now in 12th position.
13.20Alonso is about to lap Senna at any moment. The Spaniard looks comfortable in front. He is a brilliant defensive driver and it may take some doing to dislodge him. Although Webber showed that it can be done at Silverstone.
13.18Di Resta pits for medium compound tyres. Button attacks Schumacher... and he's through! Button is driving excellently! He's in third now!
13.1510 laps gone and it's Alonso leading Vettel, Schumacher, Button, Hulkenberg, Maldonado, Webber, Raikkonen. Perez easily passes Di Resta into 9th.
13.14Button makes an expert move on Hulkenberg and takes 4th position. He used the hairpin turn to his full advantage and got on the inside. Brilliant driving. Schumacher next...
13.12Perez has made considerable headway from 17th. He is in 10th after overtaking Ricciardo.
13.11Hamilton is down in 22nd position.
13.10Replays show Massa just drove straight into the back of Ricciardo, which resulted in the damage to his front wing.
13.10Perez slips inside Ricciardo while the battle for 9th heats up. A tremendous piece of driving sees Raikkonen pass Di Resta. Great battle!
13.08Paul Di Resta is under some pressure from Kimi Raikkonen for 9th place.
13.08Hamilton wants to retire. His race looks to be over...
13.07Hamilton's puncture seems to have come from the debris of Massa's front wing.
13.06Ricciardo has taken Hamilton on the inside. Team radio reveals that Hamilton has a flat tyre. He is down in 10th.
13.05The carbon fibre is littering the track. Massa has been forced to pit. Button is in behind Hulkenberg. Good start for the Brit.
13.04Grosjean leaves the track. It's Alonso, Vettel, Schumacher, Hulkenberg...
13.03Alonso speeds into turn one. Webber and Raikkonen get infront of Hamilton.
13.03Five red lights and... GO! GO! GO! We're underway at the Hockenheimring!
13.01The drivers are embarking on their formation lap. Most are starting on the soft compound tyres, while five are starting with on the medium.
12.55Sebastian Vettel has never won his home Grand Prix and will be desperate to change that this afternoon. He starts from the front row.
12.52There has been much talk, as you would expect, of Red Bull's alleged misdemeanour. Christian Horner met with the FIA this morning, and there has been satisfactory appeasement. Expect it to rumble on, however...
12.48Five Germans have taken their place on the starting grid for this Grand Prix. The emphasis will certainly be on Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher. Nico Hulkenberg is behind Schumacher on the grid and will be hoping for a good start.
12.36The McLaren car has had its troubles in the wet weather this season. It looks quick in the dry, though. Alonso has seemed happier with his Ferrari in recent weeks as well, so we should be in for a competitive race.
12.33The weather forecast looks good for the two McLaren drivers this afternoon. Things were going well for Lewis Hamilton in qualifying yesterday until the rain came. He sailed comfortably through Q1 and Q2 before Fernando Alonso showed his wet-weather skills to take his second consecutive pole.
12.31Welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring.
Written by
Michael Penkman
Michael Penkman
