The tenth round of the 2014 Formula 1 season takes place at the Hockenheimring in Germany.
It will be the 61st time that the race has appeared on the F1 schedule and the 33rd German Grand Prix to take place at the circuit, which currently alternates hosting the event with the Nurburgring.
The existing layout may not be as fast, challenging or thrilling as the previous one, but it is still tricky to master and often produces some fantastic racing.
It is the home race for four drivers on the grid (Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Hulkenberg and Adrian Sutil) as well as Mercedes, although the team itself is based in the UK.
The old Hockenheimring – a high-speed 4.24 mile track through the forest, with long straights split by tight chicanes – was replaced for the 2002 German Grand Prix by a new, more technical, slower and safer design.
The previous track was then torn up and replanted with trees, meaning a huge amount of history and character from the venue – tarmac that legendary drivers from the past raced on – was lost.
The last race to be held there, in 2012, was won by Fernando Alonso, with Jenson Button finishing in second place after Sebastian Vettel was handed a time penalty for overtaking the Brit off the circuit. Kimi Raikkonen was promoted to third.
The 2013 German Grand Prix, which took place at the Nurburgring, was won (but only just) by Vettel. It was his first home victory and he finished just ahead of Raikkonen, with Romain Grosjean in third.
A lap of the 2.842 mile circuit starts on the medium-length start/finish straight, which leads on to the high-speed right-hander of turn one. It features plenty of run-off area (expect the stewards to be keeping a very close eye on this corner) and is followed by a short flat-out section.
This is where the first DRS zone will be. Turn two is a slow right-hand hairpin that provides a good overtaking opportunity - particularly in the opening few laps.
The third corner isn’t really one at all, but turn four is a fast left-hand kink that leads on to the longest flat-out section on the circuit. This is where the second sector starts and is where the second DRS zone will be positioned.
The gently curving turn five is followed by the very heavy braking zone for the sixth corner, which is the best overtaking spot on the track. Good braking stability is very important here, as is traction for the run out of the right-hand hairpin and on to the fast kink of turn seven.
Turn eight is a tricky and challenging medium-speed left-hander and is followed by turn nine and the double-apex right of the 10th and 11th corners on the circuit, in front of the Mercedes grandstand.
A relatively short straight follows before the track re-joins the old stadium section, with grandstands surrounding this part of the track, for the third sector. The 12th corner is a fast right-hander that is very tricky to master, particularly in wet conditions. Turn 13 is a long left-hand hairpin and is a potential overtaking spot, with turns 14 and 15 making up a fast left-right chicane.
Next up is the medium-speed left of turn 16 and the final corner, which is a slightly faster left-hander. It will be even more challenging this year with the added torque of the 2014 cars. The pit lane entry is to the right and cuts inside the last turn, with the exit to the right on the run to turn two.
The circuit requires a medium downforce set-up, as a balance needs to be made due to the three differing sectors. The first is made up of long straights and a mix of corners, with the second featuring flat-out bursts of speed and heavy braking zones. The third contains twisty corners and fast direction changes.
It isn’t known to be a ‘power’ track, but the drivers with Mercedes engines will certainly benefit due to the number of straights. Braking stability is crucial, but the surface of the circuit is quite smooth – hence why Pirelli will bring the two softest compounds to Germany.
Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver at the German Grand Prix with four wins. As always, my thoughts will be with him and his family as he recovers from his terrible skiing accident at the end of last year. Juan Manuel Fangio, Jackie Stewart, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Fernando Alonso all have three each.
Lewis Hamilton is the only other multiple winner of the race, alongside Alonso, on the current grid with two. Meanwhile in the constructors’ table, Ferrari has the most victories with 21. Williams is next up with eight triumphs, followed by McLaren (8), Brabham (4) and Lotus (4).
The Mercedes team should be the team to beat once again, unless – of course – they suffer reliability issues. Rosberg will be desperate to win on home soil and bounce back from his Silverstone disappointment, but his team-mate Lewis Hamilton often goes well at the Hockenheimring. Then there is the question of who will be best of the rest.
Force India, Williams and McLaren will benefit from the long straights, but Ferrari will be in the mix and Red Bull Racing will definitely be challenging for the final podium spot. It should be a fantastic race weekend.
After Germany, the F1 circus will quickly hit the road as the Hungarian Grand Prix takes place on the following weekend. I will be at both races for (the new-look) Richland F1, so be sure to add it to your favourites for all the latest news and reports, as my full focus when I am at the track will be for the website.
German Grand Prix Fact File
Location: Hockenheim, Germany
Track length: 2.842 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 17
Laps: 67
First race: 1970 (1951 German GP)
Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren, 2004, 1m13.780
Tyre compounds: Super-soft and soft
2013 winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing (2012 winner: Fernando Alonso)
2013 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m29.383 (2012 pole position: Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1m40.621)
2013 fastest lap: Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1m33.468 (2012 fastest lap: Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, 1m18.725).
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights on BBC)
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
The existing layout may not be as fast, challenging or thrilling as the previous one, but it is still tricky to master and often produces some fantastic racing.
It is the home race for four drivers on the grid (Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Hulkenberg and Adrian Sutil) as well as Mercedes, although the team itself is based in the UK.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
The old Hockenheimring – a high-speed 4.24 mile track through the forest, with long straights split by tight chicanes – was replaced for the 2002 German Grand Prix by a new, more technical, slower and safer design.
The previous track was then torn up and replanted with trees, meaning a huge amount of history and character from the venue – tarmac that legendary drivers from the past raced on – was lost.
The last race to be held there, in 2012, was won by Fernando Alonso, with Jenson Button finishing in second place after Sebastian Vettel was handed a time penalty for overtaking the Brit off the circuit. Kimi Raikkonen was promoted to third.
The 2013 German Grand Prix, which took place at the Nurburgring, was won (but only just) by Vettel. It was his first home victory and he finished just ahead of Raikkonen, with Romain Grosjean in third.
A lap of the 2.842 mile circuit starts on the medium-length start/finish straight, which leads on to the high-speed right-hander of turn one. It features plenty of run-off area (expect the stewards to be keeping a very close eye on this corner) and is followed by a short flat-out section.
This is where the first DRS zone will be. Turn two is a slow right-hand hairpin that provides a good overtaking opportunity - particularly in the opening few laps.
The third corner isn’t really one at all, but turn four is a fast left-hand kink that leads on to the longest flat-out section on the circuit. This is where the second sector starts and is where the second DRS zone will be positioned.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
The gently curving turn five is followed by the very heavy braking zone for the sixth corner, which is the best overtaking spot on the track. Good braking stability is very important here, as is traction for the run out of the right-hand hairpin and on to the fast kink of turn seven.
Turn eight is a tricky and challenging medium-speed left-hander and is followed by turn nine and the double-apex right of the 10th and 11th corners on the circuit, in front of the Mercedes grandstand.
A relatively short straight follows before the track re-joins the old stadium section, with grandstands surrounding this part of the track, for the third sector. The 12th corner is a fast right-hander that is very tricky to master, particularly in wet conditions. Turn 13 is a long left-hand hairpin and is a potential overtaking spot, with turns 14 and 15 making up a fast left-right chicane.
Next up is the medium-speed left of turn 16 and the final corner, which is a slightly faster left-hander. It will be even more challenging this year with the added torque of the 2014 cars. The pit lane entry is to the right and cuts inside the last turn, with the exit to the right on the run to turn two.
The circuit requires a medium downforce set-up, as a balance needs to be made due to the three differing sectors. The first is made up of long straights and a mix of corners, with the second featuring flat-out bursts of speed and heavy braking zones. The third contains twisty corners and fast direction changes.
It isn’t known to be a ‘power’ track, but the drivers with Mercedes engines will certainly benefit due to the number of straights. Braking stability is crucial, but the surface of the circuit is quite smooth – hence why Pirelli will bring the two softest compounds to Germany.
 |
| © Octane Photographic |
Michael Schumacher is the most successful driver at the German Grand Prix with four wins. As always, my thoughts will be with him and his family as he recovers from his terrible skiing accident at the end of last year. Juan Manuel Fangio, Jackie Stewart, Nelson Piquet, Ayrton Senna and Fernando Alonso all have three each.
Lewis Hamilton is the only other multiple winner of the race, alongside Alonso, on the current grid with two. Meanwhile in the constructors’ table, Ferrari has the most victories with 21. Williams is next up with eight triumphs, followed by McLaren (8), Brabham (4) and Lotus (4).
The Mercedes team should be the team to beat once again, unless – of course – they suffer reliability issues. Rosberg will be desperate to win on home soil and bounce back from his Silverstone disappointment, but his team-mate Lewis Hamilton often goes well at the Hockenheimring. Then there is the question of who will be best of the rest.
Force India, Williams and McLaren will benefit from the long straights, but Ferrari will be in the mix and Red Bull Racing will definitely be challenging for the final podium spot. It should be a fantastic race weekend.
After Germany, the F1 circus will quickly hit the road as the Hungarian Grand Prix takes place on the following weekend. I will be at both races for (the new-look) Richland F1, so be sure to add it to your favourites for all the latest news and reports, as my full focus when I am at the track will be for the website.
 |
| © AllF1 |
German Grand Prix Fact File
Location: Hockenheim, Germany
Track length: 2.842 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 17
Laps: 67
First race: 1970 (1951 German GP)
Lap record: Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren, 2004, 1m13.780
Tyre compounds: Super-soft and soft
2013 winner: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing (2012 winner: Fernando Alonso)
2013 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m29.383 (2012 pole position: Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1m40.621)
2013 fastest lap: Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1m33.468 (2012 fastest lap: Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, 1m18.725).
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights on BBC)
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