Grand Prix 2014 German Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

The races are now coming thick and fast and the Drivers Championship is warming up nicely after Nico Rosberg's first DNF of the season gave a relatively easy win to Lewis Hamilton. The circus moves on now to Germany, at the emasculated Hockenheim circuit.

Last year Vettel won the first home race of his career. This year I'm sure another German driver, in the shape of Nico Rosberg, will be hoping this will be his turn. After Lewis won his home race maybe Mercedes will have something predetermined (oops, I've just started the first conspiracy theory).

Outside of both Mercedes cars failing it's hard to see any other team winning. Should the Silver Arrows falter Williams are looking best placed to pick something up but I suspect it's more likely to be a podium for either Massa or Bottas. McLaren appeared to find some pace at Silverstone, maybe their technical team have finally realised they have the best engine on the grid and should, perhaps, take advantage of it. Red Bull will also be looking to pick up the crumbs and, as appears to be the pattern, Ricciardo is more likely benefit than Vettel.

The Force India cars were off the pace in Silverstone, perhaps Hockenheim will better suit them. I'm sure the other Nico will want to put on a good show for his home crowd. It will be interesting to see which German midfield runner Fernando Alonso chooses to have a fight with. His preference most races has been Nico Hulkenberg but at Silverstone he decided to have a fight with Sebastian Vettel, which was quite entertaining.

Toro Rosso will be just behind the Ferrari's and Red Bull's, maybe collecting point or two. Of the other teams Lotus will just ahead of Sauber, the biggest question will be who will crash into whom during the race. Marussia and Caterham will fighting to be last, with Caterham almost certain to win that battle.

I forgot to mention Kimi Raikkonen. Hopefully he will be fully recovered for the German race but, on current form, Ferrari might look to stick someone else in the car.

Did I mention I'll be there? Well I will. Look out for a fat bloke with two kids waving like a tit at the camera. Maybe I'll put some Union Jack underpants on my head, that should please the German TV director :D Bring on the frites and wurst!
 
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Its not been talked about much but are we of the opinion Ferrari messed up on strategy with Alonso? He lost so much time trying to hold on to those tyres that he completly lost out in his battle with Vettel.

Were Ferrari silly not to cover off Vettel and pit the lap after he did or did a brave move of trying to stay out just not work?
 
Its not been talked about much but are we of the opinion Ferrari messed up on strategy with Alonso? He lost so much time trying to hold on to those tyres that he completly lost out in his battle with Vettel.

Were Ferrari silly not to cover off Vettel and pit the lap after he did or did a brave move of trying to stay out just not work?

Vettel was on supersofts and Alonso was on softs I believe, so Alonso naturally had to run a longer stint. For some reason Vettel's strategy turned out to be much quicker.
 
Monkeyhead From post-race comments I think FA was trying not to pit again, which quickly proved impossible.

Actually I think there might have been a bit of confusion about safety-cars going on, not just for Alonso and Ferrari either.
there was some talk that the safety-car might be on the verge on coming out not just after the Sutil incident but also earlier on when the medical car and marshalls were dealing with the car on fire for a couple of laps.
I think some teams hesitated to commit themselves with their tactical decisions, maybe expecting a safety-car on either of these.
 
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I've finally got round to watching this race on TV. You get a different impression than you do at the track (well durr!) as Rosberg looked serene throughout the race yet on the TV coverage all he did was whine about the handling and tyre wear.

Anyway, here's my biggest complaint, at the end of the race Crofty said that a German driver in a German car had won the German GP using a German engine. I know things like this shouldn't wind me up but the German car is built in Brackley, the German engine is built at Brixworth and the German driver has a Finnish father and lived most of his life in Monaco. How very German, well done them!
 
Oh, and Lewis got more cheers and applause than Nico as well but he did have to come through from the back (oh, matron!). I wonder if it were a BMW or Porsche winning everything it would be more popular?
 
Wonder if either will comeback ??

BMW couldn't get Williams and had to settle for Sauber which was starting to show some progress when they pulled out. Porsche on the other hand were last seen in F1 in 1991 failing to qualify or blowing up. Porsche have suggested a couple of times that a return could be on the cards.
 
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