Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari 248 F1 crosses the line to win the race. Formula One World Championship, Rd 12, German Grand Prix, Race, Hockenheim, Germany, 30 July 2006 © Sutton Images. No reproduction without permission
With Sebastian Vettel winning last year’s event at the Nurburgring, Germany have now had two successive home victors, but Rosberg is the first German to win at Hockenheim since Michael Schumacher triumphed in the 2006 race for Ferrari.
Less headline grabbing but equally noteworthy was the fact that Rosberg passed the 500 laps led mark during the race. He has now led more laps in Formula One racing (545) than his father, 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg, managed in his career (516).
In the other Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton was disappointed to miss out on second place, but he can at least console himself with the fact that he finished on the podium having started way down the grid in 20th. The Briton has only ever made the top three after starting outside the top ten once previously - at Brazil in 2009 when he started 17th and finished third.
Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas - the man who kept Hamilton at bay - has now finished on the rostrum in three successive races. Rather fittingly the Finn’s career-best-equalling second place finish at Hockenheim gave Williams their 300th podium, their first having also come in Germany back in 1975 with Jacques Laffite at the wheel.
Williams are now up to third place in the constructors’ standings having passed Ferrari. The Grove-based team haven’t been that high since 2008 when they were second in the table after a double points score at the season opener in Australia.
It wasn’t all joy for Williams, however, as Felipe Massa retired from the race on the first lap after a spectacular clash with McLaren’s Kevin Magnussen. It’s the third time this season the Brazilian has gone out on the first lap, following incidents in Australia and Great Britain.
Elsewhere, Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel finished ahead of team mate Daniel Ricciardo for the first time this season (in races where they both reached the chequered flag), whilst Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg extended their respective records of having scored points in every race of 2014. And Ferrari’s points streak is now up to 77 races, having begun in 2010 at, where else, Hockenheim…