The Championship has been decided last race when Marco Wittmann conquered Lautsiz. We have to go through Zandvoort before wrapping up the season in Hockenheim. And thank God we do it because this Sunday's race has been so far one of the most exciting of the season.
The release of pressure from the race to the Championship lets the drivers focus only on the race and the result is a gift to the viewers, a hour-and-a-half spectacle worth to pull out from the archives during the upcoming boring winter season.
The manufacturers standings see BMW jumping forward in the fight against AUDI that, however, is pleased to bring back to Ingolstadt the first, believe it or not, victory of the season.
It could have gone even better for the four ringed team if the safety car didn't have to show up on track every other lap, compromising the strategy of two other AUDI contending for first place: Rockenfeller and Muller.
When the red lights go off is Wittmann to take the lead from P2 but only four laps later the safety car makes it first appearance of the day: Tambay loose grip and ends up on the grass, straight until the barrier. The group repack and soon almost all the cars on option tires are in the top positions, Mortara included although he was starting from the last position on the grid.
The second safety car is crucial, it comes out on lap 18, right at the beginning of the pit stop window. Who benefits from this is who just stopped (Di Resta, Wehrlein and Mortara). On the other end, whoever has to stop now and not for option tires is not going to be happy much longer.
There's time for another four calls for the safety car but not to finish all the 44 laps of the race. Ekstrom is the one taking the most out of it flying position after position, wearing an option tire that doesn't leave much hope to the rest of the top five drivers, Superman Wittmann included.
The final verdict says: Ekstrom, Wittmann and Tomczyk on the podium, with a radiant Mortara in forth position after defending his position during the last laps from a much faster Vietoris and starting from P23 on grid.
The second last appointment of the season is over and we are all looking forward to the celebration of the champions in Hockenheim in three weeks.
It will be tough to wait until next season!
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