Hamilton pilots 2nd consecutive DHL Fastest Lap in brilliant German comeback

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton raced the DHL Fastest Lap in an epic run from the back of the grid to the final podium spot at Germany’s Hockenheimring this past Sunday. The superb drive limited the damage to his title prospects after crashing heavily in Q1.

Click play above to watch cockpit footage of Lewis Hamilton’s Fastest Lap and DHL’s F1 Expert and former F1 driver Christian Danner telling the story behind it.

Coming off his historic win at home in Silverstone, Lewis Hamilton certainly didn’t see this coming.

“The car was feeling great today,” he said after a devastating crash only 5 laps in the first round of qualifying left the British Grand Prix Champion and his Silver Arrow in P16. “I braked in the same place as I have been doing and I suddenly lost brake pressure – it took me by surprise and the failure spun the car into the wall.”

“It took me by surprise and the failure spun the car into the wall.” (Lewis Hamilton)

The setback sure didn’t dampen his determination to repeat his sensational performance at Silverstone two weeks prior. “It's definitely going to be a tough afternoon but I won't be giving up,” he said.

And he most certainly didn’t give up – even after a grid penalty pushed him to the back of the grid. P20 – a position the 2008 World Champion isn’t accustomed to.

While his teammate, Nico Rosberg, sailed to an easy victory at Germany’s beloved Hockenheimring, Hamilton fought the headwinds throughout the entire race and survived a number of storms. As he tacked his way through the field, picking off drivers one by one, he came into contact with Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen and rubbed Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull on a spectacularly opportunistic move going into the hairpin on Lap 13. But it was the clash with Jenson Button’s McLaren at the same corner on Lap 30 that eventually caused Hamilton’s Silver Arrow to take on water and lose momentum – the damage to the front wing endplate cost him downforce and ultimately a chance at the number two spot behind his teammate.

“When you are sitting on the grid basically in last place, with no other cars in your mirrors, it's very hard to imagine that you could be standing up there two hours later.” (Lewis Hamilton)

Fastest Lap
Riding in 3rd place with the end to a hard-fought journey in sight, Hamilton’s podium finish was nearly in jeopardy when the Brit was forced to pit for a third time for another set of supersofts with only seven laps to go – dropping him to P4. Luckily Fernando Alonso’s attempt in the Ferrari to finish on two stops failed and the Silver Arrow passed him with ease. With time running out, Hamilton pushed the envelope one last time, setting the DHL Fastest Lap on Lap 53 as he reeled in Williams’ Valtteri Bottas to within a half a second.

The standings
Hamilton’s survival run keeps him in the hunt for the championship at 176 points behind Rosberg’s 190. The Silver Arrows are still on top in the constructor’s table with an incredible 366 points.

The DHL Fastest Lap Award is heating up as Hamilton’s second consecutive Fastest Lap evens the score with Rosberg at 3.

Watch Hamilton’s classic win and Fastest Lap in Silverstone – and his first Fastest Lap of the season in Malaysia.

See all Danner’s Fastest Lap Tips and Reviews!
Christian Danner shares the Fastest Lap story with us each week and you can have a look back at his past picks and reviews at any time on DHL's YouTube channel. Before and after each Grand Prix this season, Christian Danner offers up his pick for the DHL Fastest Lap and then reviews that perfect lap after the race. “One thing that is so cool about the fastest lap,” says Danner, “is that there’s always a story behind the story.” Click here to keep pace with what is happening in Formula 1 and DHL Motorsports on DHL InMotion –events that will move you!