F1: Top 5 recovery drives of the 2018 season

#3 Lewis Hamilton in Germany

Hamilton's luck changed from tragic on Saturday to blessed on race day

This is is the only race win on the list and it came against the run of play. Hamilton started a very disappointing 14th in Germany, following a mechanical failure in qualifying.

Vettel was in pole position to extend his lead, but Hamilton scythed his way back through the field, and then took advantage of a dramatic rain-hit conclusion which involved his championship rival crashing out from the lead as he sealed a famous win.

He was helped with the safety car and preferential race strategy by the Mercedes team, having decided to back him to the title. However, no victory from so far down the grid should be dismissed even if the race leader (Sebastian Vettel) crashed out.

What made the win especially sweet for Hamilton was the booing he received from a partisan German crowd the previous day.