Max Verstappen wins chaotic German GP ahead of Sebastian Vettel as Lewis Hamilton suffers nightmare run to 11th place

Four safety car periods during an eventful afternoon in Hockenheim with Valtteri Bottas, Charles Leclerc and Nico Hulkenberg among the drivers to crash out

Victory in Germany was Max Verstappen's seventh in F1. AFP

The safety car made four visits to the track in Hockenheim. AFP

Verstappen celebrates his success in parc ferme. AFP

Verstappen leads in the wet on his way to victory. EPA

Renault's Nico Hulkenberg, who had been as high as second, crashed out. AFP

Lewis Hamilton crashed while leading and eventually finished 11th. EPA

Third place for Daniil Kvyat was his first podium since the Chinese Grand Prix in 2016. AP Photo

The cars ran behind the safety car for the first three laps. EPA

Valtteri Bottas drives behind the safety car. AP Photo

The wreckage of the Bottas Mercedes after the Finn crashed. EPA

Charles Leclerc's damaged Ferrari after he crashed. AP Photo

Hulkenberg's wait for a first F1 podium goes on. AFP

Hamilton rejoins the track after his crash as Leclerc's car sits in the barriers behind. AFP

Kvyat runs to celebrate with his Toro Rosso mechanics. AFP

Red Bull mechanics celebrate Verstappen's win. Reuters

Vettel came from last on the grid to match his best result of 2019 with second. AFP

Max Verstappen won a chaotic German Grand Prix in the wet at Hockenheim on Sunday - despite pitting five times.

The Red Bull Racing driver kept his cool on an afternoon of drama to win for the seventh time in his career.

With conditions changing throughout the 64-lap race, and four safety car periods, there a number of trips to the pits for most of the field with only 14 cars finishing.

Verstappen survived a spin mid-race to go on triumph, pulling away in the final stages after the track had dried out and he had been able to go on to slick tyres.

He finished ahead of Sebastian Vettel, who had started last in his Ferrari, whose second place was his first Hockenheim podium in nine years.

The Toro Rosso of Daniil Kvyat was third ahead of Lance Stroll's Racing Point.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton led for half the race but then damaged his car in a spin and ended up finishing out of the points in 14th place.

But the Mercedes-GP driver maintains a 39-point lead in the championship as teammate Valtteri Bottas crashed out late in the race as he attempted to get a place on the podium.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Renault's Nico Hulkenberg were among the drivers to crash.