LEWIS HAMILTON cruised to an unchallenged victory in Sunday’s German Grand Prix to extend his lead over Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg at the top of the Formula One world championship standings.

    Hamilton seized the advantage at the start from pole-sitter Rosberg, who drove an underwhelming race in front of his home fans at Hockenheim, and was never headed.

    “What a race, what a fantastic start. It was just about keeping it cool,” Hamilton said.

    The Briton crossed the line 6.9 seconds ahead of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, on the podium for the second race in a row on his 100th Grand Prix appearance.

    The Australian’s Dutch teammate Max Verstappen finished third, his fourth top-three result, to give Red Bull its first double rostrum in over a year.

    Rosberg, who had looked unbeatable after topping every practice session, was only fourth after falling back at the start and collecting a five-second time-penalty for forcing Verstappen off the track.

    It was Hamilton’s sixth victory in the last seven races and fourth in succession. The 49th of the reigning champion’s career left him two adrift of Frenchman Alain Prost’s mark of 51.

    He now leads Rosberg by 19 points in the standings with nine rounds of a record 21-race season remaining.

    “Get in there Lewis, great work mate. Beautiful start, fantastically managed,” the Briton’s Mercedes team said to him over the radio on the slowing down lap.

    Sebastian Vettel was fifth on his first appearance in Ferrari colors on home soil, crossing the line 32.5 seconds adrift of Hamilton, with Finnish teammate Kimi Raikkonen capping a disappointing weekend for the Italian team in sixth.

    (SD-Agencies)