Pirelli breathes sigh of relief as German Grand Prix passes without mishap

ERJ staff report (BC)

Milan – Pirelli's motorsport director Paul Hembery pronounced himself satisfied after the German Grand Prix passed without tire incidents at the Nürburgring on 7 July. Hembery said: "... The overall performance and durability of our tires were in line with our expectations. While thermal degradation was perhaps a little higher than expected, due to the high track temperatures, wear was as we predicted. It would certainly have been possible to complete the race with two pit stops, as many of the competitors showed."

Race winner Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull extended his championship lead with a hard-fought victory, with one stint on the P Zero Yellow tire at the start of the race followed by three longer stints on the P Zero White medium tire. The intervention of a safety car with 36 laps to go prompted most drivers to make their second stops, with the final stops coming in the closing stages of the race.