Brawn: Exciting German GP perfect response to F1 criticism

Formula 1 managing director Ross Brawn says the dramatic German Grand Prix at Hockenheim acted as the "perfect response" to the "vitriolic" criticism faced by the sport in recent months after a run of underwhelming races.

F1 came under heavy fire following last month's French Grand Prix for its lack of on-track action or close competition, with Mercedes winning all of the opening eight races.

But the last three rounds in Austria, Great Britain and Germany offered plenty of overtaking and close wheel-to-wheel battles, as well as offering a new winner in the form of Red Bull's Max Verstappen for two of the races. Germany offered a particularly dramatic race that has already been talked up as one of the best of the decade.

Writing in his regular post-race 'media pass' column, F1 managing director for motorsport Brawn said he was pleased with this response offered to the criticism laid at the sport.

"The German Grand Prix was incredibly exciting, from first lap to last. It had everything, overtaking, mistakes, less than perfect strategies, immense bravery, crashes and a podium line-up – indeed a top-10 order – no-one could have predicted after qualifying," Brawn said.

"The points placings featured drivers from eight different teams, and on a day when the big guns faltered wholly or in part, only Toro Rosso and Haas managed to get both drivers in the points.

"It has to be said that intermittent rain really made the spectacle, but it can’t be denied that for different reasons, all three recent races have been hugely entertaining. It’s the best possible response to the unfortunate criticism the sport received after the French Grand Prix, some of it surprisingly vitriolic.

"I’m not saying everything is perfect, especially when you consider that Daniil Kvyat’s third-place finish is only the third time that a driver from outside the top three teams has finished on the podium since 2017.

"But I think it is fair to say that over half of this year’s races have been anything but boring, despite the dominance of Mercedes who have simply done a better job than any of their rivals.

"Not every race can be at this level, but there are enough to make this the greatest motorsport series in the world."