Markelov Takes Major Victory in Germany

Qualifying:

Pos#DriverConstructorQ1Q2Diff.
118Sebastian VettelCaterham-Judd1:13.0221:12.913
26Artem MarkelovBR Mansell-Toyota1:13.2021:12.013+0.100
347Lando NorrisCaterham-Judd1:13.3371:13.298+0.382
439Sho TsuboiBR Mansell-Toyota1:13.7301:13.519+0.606
523Alexander AlbonFerrari1:13.9651:13.523+0.610
67Charles LeclercFAST-Mercedes1:13.5791:13.530+0.617
764Dave CassidyFerrari1:14.0561:13.707+0.794
894Pascal WehrleinPrecision-Mercedes1:13.7161:13.818+0.803
957Dean StonemanPrecision-Mercedes1:13.7621:14.167+0.849
1031Esteban OconFAST-Mercedes1:13.7711:13.960+0.858
1133Max VerstappenRed Bull-Ferrari1:22.2641:22.092+0.760
1226Robert ShwartzmanWilliams-Ferrari1:22.3891:22.495+1.057
1370Marvin KirchhöferWilliams-Ferrari1:14.3901:14.140+1.227
1429Roger IbeRed Bull-Ferrari1:14.3221:14.332+1.409
1513Pastor MaldonadoSauber-Judd1:15.3491:14.943+2.030
1677Valtteri BottasToyota1:15.2911:14.985+2.072
1737Kazuki NakajimaToyota1:15.4041:15.028+2.115
1873Daniel MelroseCalinetic-Judd1:15.8311:15.936+2.918
1923Jules BianchiCalinetic-Judd1:16.4961:15.928+2.912
204Robin FrijnsLoonmotor-Judd1:16.3591:16.496+3.446
2199Antonio GiovinazziDawson-Mercedes1:16.7251:16.449+3.704
2255Carlos Sainz, Jr.Dawson-Mercedes1:16.4931:16.849+3.580
2398Bradley DagnallLoonmotor-Judd1:16.7891:16.547+3.634
2484Jack AitkenSauber-Judd1:16.2431:16.221+3.308*

* 3-place grid penalty

Report:

The tight Oschersleben circuit was a major challenge for all drivers and allowed some backmarkers to make an impression.

Caterham arrived at the 2021 German Grand Prix with high hopes after Sebastian Vettel controlled the Dutch Grand Prix. A 1-3 in qualifying did nothing to undermine their confidence, given that BR Mansell would be weaker in the race itself.

Unfortunately, their highly-competitive driver pairing would prove to be their undoing: Norris and Vettel entered open combat on the track and Sebastian cracked in front of his home fans, running out of track and damaging his car.

Norris himself would fall behind Markelov before retiring with a Judd failure, leaving Artem Markelov to extend his championship lead. He finished ahead of an amazing Esteban Ocon and the two Precisions, Wehrlein beating Stoneman for the first time this season.

In a challenging race with many retirements, the two Toyota drivers came through to score the team’s first double-points finish since the 2020 German Grand Prix. Jules Bianchi ensured Calinetic’s 10th place in the standings, even if Robin Frijns beat Daniel Melrose.

Race:

Pos#DriverConstructorTime/RetiredPoints
16Artem MarkelovBR Mansell-Toyota64:13.89615
214Esteban OconFAST-Mercedes+25.84312
394Pascal WehrleinPrecision-Mercedes+39.07010
457Dean StonemanPrecision-Mercedes+40.7468
518Sebastian VettelCaterham-Judd+47.1296
626Robert ShwartzmanWilliams-Ferrari+50.8605
764Dave CassidyFerrari+59.3624
87Charles LeclercFAST-Mercedes+67.0343
937Kazuki NakajimaToyota1 Lap2
1077Valtteri BottasToyota1 Lap1
1123Jules BianchiCalinetic-Judd1 Lap
1219Robin FrijnsLoonmotor-Judd1 Lap
1373Daniel MelroseCalinetic-Judd2 Laps
1499Antonio GiovinazziDawson-Judd4 Laps
DNF47Lando NorrisCaterham-JuddMotor
DNF39Sho TsuboiMansell-MercedesAccident
DNF85Jack AitkenSauber-JuddMotor
DNF33Max VerstappenRed Bull-FerrariAccident
DNF98Bradley DagnallLoonmotor-JuddThrottle
DNF29Roger IbeRed Bull-FerrariCollision
DNF55Carlos Sainz, Jr.Dawson-MercedesMotor
DNF70Marvin KirchhöferWilliams-FerrariTransmission
DNF23Alexander AlbonFerrariAccident
DNF13Pastor MaldonadoSauber-JuddAccident

Fastest Lap:

Sebastian Vettel – 1:13.243

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Toyota – Markelov’s win and both cars of the works team in the Top 10, that’s the good stuff.

Reject Of The Race:

Caterham-Judd – they have a car that is good enough for the title, but their drivers need to improve.