Mercedes Formula 1 chief Toto Wolff believes Lewis Hamilton's rapid pace on the Ultrasoft tyre helped force Ferra♒ri rival Sebastian Vettel into his race-ending mistake in Sunday's German Grand Prix.

Starting 14th on the grid, Hamilton took a sensational victory at Hockenheim aft⛦er seeing Vettel crash out in damp conditions while running eight seconds clear of the field.

Prior to Vettel's crash, Hamilton had cut the ga𒆙p to the Ferrari driver down fr🌃om 24 seconds to just 12 in the space of seven laps, finding time on his fresh set of Ultrasoft tyres as light rain fell on the circuit.

While Wolff was reluctant to take satisfaction out of Vettel's demise, he agreed that Hamilton's pace did most likely play a part in forci🔯ng the error.

"Sebastian in the front knew that he needed t⛄o continue to drive fast in order to not compromise his race situation. That led t𒁃o the mistake, I guess," Wolff said.

"It was an error, but the feeling I have is that as much as we enjoy winning and we fightꦜ hard on-track and we are rivals, I can relate how that feels and it’s not nice.

"We need to find the right balance between attacking and keeping thಌe lead and that’s coming from behind and in the same way k🌱eeping the car safe on track, and that is not always easy. Today that went against him."

Vettel’s off, coupled with💙 Hamilton’s victory, see the F1 world drivers’ championship swing back to the Mercedes driver who now holds a ꦉ17-point advantage over his fellow four-time world champion.