Michael Schumacher’s incredible spell of Formula 1 means that Grand Prix is a huge event in Germany. Germany has alternated its Grand Prix between two of its highly respected tracks, Nurburgring and Hockenheimring since 2005. This year, it’s the turn of Hockenheimring.
This year there there is lots of German interest, due to the sheer number of drivers who will be racing alongside Schumacher on home soil; Vettel, Rosberg, Sutil, Glock and Hulkenberg.
The circuit was redesigned by Hermann Tilke in 2002, into the current F1 configuration. However, don’t despair, as the circuit offers decent overtaking opportunities, particularly into the hairpin section.
It has some narrow sections, but also a long straight and this combination makes it a very technical circuit. It is not easy to find the right set-up for the car there, with a trade-off between downforce and drag.
It’s a mix of slow speed corners in the final section, where you can gain lap time if you get it right, and to a certain extent quite a bit of straight line running. This balance makes it quite an interesting circuit for drivers and spectators alike, and it should prove to be an interesting Grand Prix.
Introduction by WasiF1 and Jack Sargeant
Keep an eye on…
It shall be very intriguing to see how McLaren‘s exhaust blown diffuser performs after performing badly last time out at Silverstone.
Red Bull as usual go into the race as favourites, although tyre choice will be key in deciding the race outcome, as Bridgestone have opted to bring the softest and hardest tyres from their F1 range, which may bring some unexpected results in the Grand Prix!
Virtual lap
Drivers
“It’s a great track for racing as there are a couple of places where you can overtake, especially down at the hairpin at the end of the back-straight. It will be an interesting race, especially with the comeback of Michael Schumacher at his home race, that will attract, I believe, a lot of his fans.” – Robert Kubica
Engines
“The first half of the lap sees drivers reach over 300km/h on three occasions heading into the first and second turns, and then again down the long Parabolika straight into turn 6, which is a slow first gear hairpin demanding excellent braking stability from around 320kmh down to around 60kmh. This is a prime overtaking spot around the lap. The second half of the lap comprises a number of slower speed corners interlinking medium speed sections, which demand good braking stability and traction. Efficient engine delivery from the final double right hander will be important to get a good run down the start-finish straight and the next lap.” – Cosworth
Tyres
“This will be the first time that we have raced at Hockenheim with slicks since 1997, and the circuit configuration then was very different. The circuit layout features a long left hander before the hairpin where it is important to have good stability. After the hairpin, there are strong traction demands on the rear tyres. Elsewhere, a good overall balance is required. We have a unique opportunity with the nature of the Hockenheim circuit allowing us to bring the softest and the hardest tyres from our range. This should provide a challenge for everyone and should be interesting. The weather will play a factor too. If it is hot then the super soft will be a challenge to manage for stability and durability. If it is cold then ensuring the hard is in its temperature operating window will be a tough task.” – Bridgestone
Weather
In the run up to the German Grand Prix weather in Hockenheim is expected to be very hot, but for Thursday and Friday things are expected to cool dramatically as heavy showers descend on the circuit. Rain is also possible on Saturday, but there is only a low chance of scattered showers for raceday.
At this race last year…
Mark Webber claimed his first F1 win in 130 starts at the Nurburgring. The Aussie was handed a drive-through penalty for making contact with Rubens Barrichello off the start line, yet he showed his incredibly fast pace by fighting back and winning the Grand Prix. Rubens Barrichello was unhappy after his Brawn GP team, saying:
“There was a great show from the team today of how to lose a race. I did all I could today, I got first at the first corner, and they made me lose the race.”
He added:
“If we keep going like this we’re going to lose both championships.
“To be very honest with you I wish I could get on a plane and just go home, because when I go to the team afterwards there will be a lot of ‘blah, blah, blah’ and I don’t want to hear that right now.”
Race times
(All times BST)
Fri 23 Jul: Practice 1 0900-1030; Practice 2 1300-1430
Sat 24 Jul: Practice 3 1000-1100; Qualifying 1300
Sun 25 Jul: Race 1300
The current track has a couple of corners that are quite interesting, especially turns one and 12 – which are both high-speed. When you look at turn one from outside of the car, you would not imagine that you would go so quickly through this corner because it’s so short, but you can carry quite a lot of speed actually. Turn 12, the entry to the stadium, is also a nice corner, although lately you are not able to use so much of the outside kerb because there is some artificial grass and that makes it quite a tricky place.
All the other corners are medium to low-speed corners and are quite tricky. Turns 16 and 17, for example, which make up a double right-hander just before the start-finish line create quite a lot of understeer. It’s a long corner and a bit off-camber and it’s a bit like a double-apex corner.
Turn 13 is quite interesting. There’s a lot of camber so you can go very deep into the apex and get quite early on power. Of course, you have to watch that you don’t lose the car out of the camber in the exit of the corner.
The best overtaking opportunity is the big braking zone before turn six, which is a really low-speed hairpin after the long straight. It’s a first gear corner and we have seen lots of action there in the past.
If it stays dry on Sunday then it will be Red Bull all over again but if it rains then I think it will be Mclaren.