Hamilton extended his championship lead over team-mate Valtteri Bottas to 69 points after the Finn retired. The race had been poised for a close fight between Hamilton and Bottas before the second Mercedes hit trouble at the Nurburgring. That gave Bottas control of the race, but Hamilton pressured him hard and in the end the leader buckled. Bottas handed the advantage back to Hamilton on lap 13, locking a wheel into Turn One and running wide, allowing Hamilton to close in and pass for the lead around the outside of Turn Two. Although Verstappen stole the point for fastest lap from Hamilton on the last lap of the race, Hamilton’s lead is close to three clear race victories with only six races remaining.

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