F1: German Grand Prix – live!

Lap 46/64 Off goes the safety car and Albon and Sainz both attack Hamilton! One on each side! But around the corner he holds it down! Albon then finds himself sliding from fourth to eighth, while in front Verstappen extends his lead to 3.964 before pitting for slicks!

Lap 45/64 There’s no rain expected so Bottas’ team tell him he needs to get at Verstappen immediately. Hamilton, meanwhile, will probably need to pit at some point, which will mean he has to take his penalty then, not at the line. The safety car is almost away.

Lap 44/64 Imagine John Terry taking a penalty on this track.

Lap 44/64 We see Hulkenberg debriefing with his team; he looks “gutted”.

Lap 43/64 Vettel leads Bottas by 1.8s as the safety car mooches around; Hamilton will be gearing up for a proper assault when it departs but would presumably have liked as long as possible to make up the gap.

Lap 41/64 Hulkenberg is out of his car as Hamilton closes on Bottas and Verstappen pits onto inters!

Lap 41/64 Well this has been a quiet night in at the library. No podium for Hulkenberg, who finds himself off the track – it’s not obvious how he’s done that – and that’ll be the safety car back on! What a mistake!

Lap 40/64 Rare mistake from Raikkonen who slides, misses his steer, drives off the track and has to force his way back on. He’s ninth now.

Lap 39/64 But Hamilton isn’t having it; he’s never be satisfied, and absolutely nails Hulkenberg. That’s him in third, roughly 11 seconds off the pace and two behind Bottas.

Lap 38/64 Hulkenberg has never finished on the podium, but might just manage it today if Hamilton gets another penalty. It’s raining a little, but not heavily.

Lap 37/64 Verstappen is seven seconds clear but Hamilton is going faster than him – though he’s also under investigation for behind the safety car behaviour. Bottas, meanwhile, is far too quick for Hulkenberg and passes him into second. The lead is 8.583s.

Lap 36/64 Hamilton is absolutely ganting to do Albon, who bravely holds him up to begin with but has no answer when he goes by.

Lap 35/64 Versatppen pulls away from Hulkenberg – his lead is 4.643 now and increasing all the time.

Lap 34/64 Five second penalty for Hamilton for going the wrong side of the bollard! If he pits again he’ll have to wait the time out; if he doesn’t it’ll be added to his finishing time!

Lap 34/64 Let’s go racing! Off they go again! Hamilton is 4.70 off the front!

Lap 33/64 Albon is doing pretty well for someone who’s never driven an F1 car in the rain. Or maybe it’s not that difficult.

Lap 33/64 Verstappen leads by 0.801 from Hulkonen, then it’s Bottas, Albon, Hamilton, Sainz, Raikkonen, Vettel. This is so set-up it’s ridiculous.

Lap 32/64 Hamilton’s team don’t think the damage to the car is too bad, but meantime he’s down in fifth.

Lap 31/64 Hamilton might’ve gone into the pits the wrong side of the bollards … they’re investigating. Versatappen, on intermediates, leads and looks good all of a sudden!

Lap 30/64 The safety car is still out but Bottas goes in and Verstappen leads!

Lap 30/64 Who saw that coming? Hamilton was absolutely cruising, but now he’s fifth behind Albon, Hulkenberg, Verstappen and Bottas – that’s in ascending order.

Lap 30/64 OH MY DAYS! Hamilton goes off where Leclerc did, manages to stay on, and needs a new front wing! They’re not ready for him in the pits and Bottas takes the lead! It’s all going on!

Lap 29/64 Nightmare for Leclerc, who was in position to challenge for the lead, and he hollers his agony. Looking again, a tiny bit of understeer saw him slide, the back came out from under him and there he went. The safety car comes on…

Lap 29/64 Hamilton goes in while Leclerc stays ahead of Bottas. Hamilton’s stop is a long one and LECLERC GOES WIDE AND CRASHES OUT!

Lap 28/64 Norris has lost power and is off!

1. Hamilton

2. Leclerc

3. Bottas

4. Verstappen

5. Hulkenberg

6. Albon

7. Raikkonen

8. Vettel

9. Sainz

10. Giovinazzi

11. Gasly

12. Grosjean

Lap 27/64 In goes Bottas … and Verstappen spins on a kerb and is driving very slowly indeed! Will that be the beginning of the end for him?

Lap 26/64 Leclerc’s advantage is done; he’s no longer lapping faster than the rest, but sits third now Verstappen has pitted.

Lap 26/64 Verstappen goes in! Red Bull gamble, and go for mediums, maybe even to the end!

Lap 25/64 Hamilton leads by 8.599, and is asking his boys how Magnussen’s getting on on slicks. The answer is pretty well. The corners are wet, but everywhere else is largely dry.