Frantic start in Germany
There were contrasting fortunes for both Ferrari drivers at the start of today’s German Grand Prix, whilst Lewis Hamilton was forced into an early pit stop.
As championship leader Fernando Alonso made a clean getaway from the 22nd pole position of his career at Hockenheim, Felipe Massa was forced into the pits at the end of lap one after losing his front wing.
Lotus’ Romain Grosjean and the Williams of Bruno Senna also made stops after the first lap as they endured their own problems.
Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel was forced to hold off an early charge from Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher, the Red Bull driver eventually closing in on Alonso ahead.
Behind Hamilton seemingly collected debris from Massa’s lap-one incident, resulting in a puncture and an early pit stop, sending him down to 22nd on the occasion of his 100th grand prix.
After seven laps Alonso led Vettel by almost a second, the duo followed by Schumacher and Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg. Jenson Button was fifth in his McLaren, whilst Hamilton found himself 65 seconds down.
