F1: German GP Preview

Last time F1 ran at Hockenheim was 2012

During the 2014 race season, AutoRacing1.com columnist Brian Carroccio will preview all Formula 1 and IndyCar races. Below, is Brian's preview for this weekend’s 2014 Formula 1 Santander German Grand Prix. Enjoy!

A Few Quick Facts

Round 10 of the 2014 Formula One World Championship will take place this weekend at the Hockenheimring in Hockenheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany near Berlin. It will be the 34th Grand Prix held at Hockenheim and ninth on the shortened layout that debuted in 2002.

Of course, relegated to the ash heap of racing history is the much-romanticized 4-plus mile Old Hockenheimring, which provided drivers and teams with a unique setup dilemma between the incredibly long, fast straights, and tight stadium section. The stadium section does remain in the current 2.7-mile sanitized version.

Also, since 2008, the German Grand Prix has rotated between Hockenheim and the Nurburgring, with Hockenheim running the even years, Nurburgring the odd.

Brief History

Michael Schumacher won his home GP 4 times.

Rudolf Caraciola is the winningest driver in the German Grand Prix with 6 victories. Michael Schumacher won his home Grand Prix four times. Fernando Alonso has the most wins of any active driver with 3.

Ferrari is the winningest constructor in the event’s history with 22 wins. Mercedes has 8 Constructor’s victories in their home Grand Prix, but none since 1954. As you likely know, The Silver Arrows have a good chance of bringing that streak to an end this year.

Who are the previous winners of the German Grand Prix?

As previously mentioned, Alonso has three wins (2012, 2010 and 2005) in the German Grand Prix, all at Hockenheim. The Spaniard also boasts 1 pole, 1 second place and 1 third.

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton has won twice in Germany, once at Hockenheim (2008) and once at the Nurburgring (2011), and has two poles in the German Grand Prix. However, Hamilton has no other podium finishes.

An understandably despondent Felipe Massa 'celebrating' on the podium in 2010.

Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel is the defending winner in his home Grand Prix and the only other previous winner entered this year. Vettel also finished second to then-teammate Mark Webber in 2009, and won pole for the 2010 race. That year, the four-time defending World Champion came home third to Alonso and Felipe Massa in the famous “Felipe, Fernando is faster than you," race.

Is there anyone else with a noteworthy record in Germany?

Williams’ Felipe Massa has four podium finishes (two 2nds, two 3rds) in Germany without a victory. Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen has two poles (2005 and 2006) and three podium finishes including a second last year. McLaren’s Jenson Button has finished second twice and third once.

The only other driver in this year’s field with a podium finish is Lotus’ Romain Grosjean, who finished third a year ago.

Is there anyone with a particularly unexceptional record at Hockenheim?

World Championship leader Nico Rosberg has never finished better than fourth (2009). Also, the last four seasons driving for Mercedes, Rosberg has a best finish of 7th in Germany (2011).

Also, Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, who sits third in the standings has never scored a championship point in three German Grand Prix.

What are the most intriguing storylines coming into the weekend?

Daniel Ricciardo has been smiling a lot more than teammate Sebastian Vettel in 2014.

From my perspective, the dominant theme of 2014 has been and remains the intra-team battles at the top-three teams in the Constructors’ standings: Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull.

As for Mercedes, Hamilton and Rosberg continue to essentially conduct their own championship at the front of the field. Hamilton put an end to Rosberg’s momentum at Silverstone. The Brit captured victory as the German retired with mechanical issues. Hamilton now sits three points behind Rosberg in the championship standings.

At Red Bull, newcomer Daniel Ricciardo has had the better of Vettel, and is currently 28 points ahead in the standings.

Ferrari remains a one-sided affair. Alonso has a 68-point advantage over the 2007 World Champion, and there’s little to indicate the ruthless Spaniard will let the moody Finn off the mat anytime soon.

Anyone else to keep an eye on?

The storied Williams F1 team has enjoyed a resurgence in 2014.

Williams.

Valtteri Bottas has finished on the podium in the last two races. Also, Williams swept the front row at Austria in qualifying.

In short, over the last two Grand Prix, Williams has been ‘first in class,’ the ‘best of the rest,’ whatever cliché you prefer.

So who captures the victory?

Hamilton.

Much has been made of the 2008 World Champion’s temperamental psyche. However, when Hamilton is right, he is the quicker driver than Rosberg. And after a reinvigorating victory in his home Grand Prix, you have to think Hamilton will arrive in Germany brimming with confidence.

Look for Hamilton to lead a Mercedes one-two…again.

Brian Carroccio is a columnist for AutoRacing1.com. He can be contacted at BrianC@AutoRacing1.com.