2019 German GP - Hockenhiem

[Nitrodaze]

We return to the BOOT. HockenhiemRing as it is called is located in the Rhine valley near the town of Hockenheim in Baden-Württemberg Germany. In the Turbo era, it was a 6.832 Km (4.240 Miles) circuit carved into the Hockenheim forest. The circuit was redesigned by Hermann Tilke for the 2002 German Grand Prix after the F1 management requested that it should be shortened. Amidst protest for its change in layout, the new layout was reduced to a 2.7km layout that is reminiscent of a ladies boot.

Since the turbo era (1984 - 2013), Ferrari was the most successful team to win this race with nine wins, closely followed by the Williams F1 team with eight wins. However since the new layout in 2002, Ferrari has won it five times, followed by Mercedes with three wins and Redbull with two wins.

Kimi Raikonen currently hold the race lap record at 1:13:780 since 2004 in the Mclaren MP4-19B. The Red Baron, Michael Schumacher is jointly the most successful driver to race this track since the turbo era to date with Lewis Hamilton who have jointly won this race four time each. Alonso has won it three times. Sebastien Vettel is the only other driver on the current grid to have won this race, in 2013, his only win at the venue.



Ferrari and Vettel return to the BOOT with a sour reminder of the unfortunate incident last season that saw the Ferrari and Vettel's hopes of winning the 2018 championship unravel in a spectacular fashion. The innocuous crash from a handsome lead that handed his closest rival the win of the race was a very bitter pill for Ferrari and Vettel specifically. Vettel returns with no grand prix win to his name in a season that is looking nightmarish for him. The Ferrari is typically very strong at this track, but the 2019 Ferrari is expected to give away performance at the tight corners on the lower half of the boot. But would excel in the fast straights at the top half of the boot. Could Vettel finally win a race for Ferrari in 2019 at this weekend. It would be a popular win if either Ferrari driver manage to put the Ferrari on the top step of the podium this weekend.



This race is expected to be very hot as it was at the Austrian GP. There are indications that the Mercedes may suffer cooling problems at this race. It would seem the battle for the top step shall be between Ferrari and Redbull. Ferrari would seem the favorite to win this race on paper, but the Redbull has found a way to get into Ferrari's hair, this season, hence l would not write off a Verstapenn win at this weekend.



That said, l would not write off the Mercedes either. After Austria, l am sure they have gone back to base and worked out a solution for the hot temperatures experienced at Austria. To a certain extent, we go into Hockenheim somewhat unsure about who is going to win it.

One of the three DRS zones of the Hockenheimring track has been removed for this race weekend. The DRS zone on the pit straight has been removed. Mercedes would be running a white livery to commemorate 125 years of racing and their 200th F1 race. The white livery at the front shreds at the midpoint of the car into the normal silver livery at the rear of the car.

And the fine German Grid Girls to warm your hearts for this German GP.