The German GP Hockenheimring Circuit

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton won a thrilling German Grand Prix on Sunday to forge four points clear of Ferrari's Felipe Massa at the top of the Formula One championship.

Brazilian rookie Nelson Piquet, who had started in 17th place on a one-stop strategy, finished an astonishing second for Renault after leading for six laps in the race of his life. Compatriot Massa was third.

The safety car was deployed on lap 36 after the Toyota of Germany's Timo Glock suffered a dramatic high-speed suspension failure and slammed into the concrete wall backwards at the entrance to the straight. The driver was helped groggily from the wrecked car, with debris scattered across the track, and taken to the medical centre. With the exception of Hamilton, the leaders all came in to refuel and change tyres when the pit lane opened.

Massa's appearance on the podium with him made it the first time two Brazilian drivers had stood in that position since Piquet's father and namesake joined the late Ayrton Senna in the top three in 1991.

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pic 1: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit
pic 2: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit

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pic 1: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit
pic 2: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit

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pic 1: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit
pic 2: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit

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pic 1: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit
pic 2: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit

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pic 1: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit
pic 2: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit

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pic 1: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit
pic 2: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit

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pic 1: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit
pic 2: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit

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pic 1: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit
pic 2: The German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring Circuit