24/07/2011
NEWS STORY
Even without the overnight rain, which carried on into the morning and affected this morning's GP3, GP2 and Porsche Supercup events, today's race promises to be a bit special.
Sebastian Vettel dearly wants to win his home race - one of the few boxes he has yet to tick - however, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton have other ideas.
Though Red Bull continues to put a brave face on things, the fact is that the 'feud' between its drivers continues to simmer away, brought back to the boil a couple of weeks back during the final stages of the British Grand Prix. Despite the Australian's claim that a win for someone other than Vettel would be good for the sport, the fact is he would dearly love to beat him on home ground - much like Vettel did at Melbourne earlier this year.
Then there's Lewis Hamilton, who despite the naysayers - of which he was one - has performed miracles thus far this weekend, losing out on pole by the smallest of margins but crucially giving Red Bull something to think about overnight.
Just minutes after the (increasingly tiresome) Eddie Jordan suggested that the wheels are falling off at McLaren, Hamilton stuck in a "wicked" lap just 0.055s shy of Webber's masterpiece. If that was the wheels coming off god help us when McLaren gets its act together.
As if the though of these three battlers isn't enough to make you go all gooey, we have Fernando Alonso in the mix, the Spaniard demonstrating for much of this weekend that Silverstone was no fluke.
Truth be told, most of us expected Alonso to be sitting alongside a Red Bull at the front of today's grid, however, that wicked lap from Hamilton, not to mention McLaren's numerous updates, leaves the Spaniard starting from fourth, right behind his former teammate at Woking.
That said, his Maranello outfit is fearful, admitting, ninety minutes before the race, that the cold changeable conditions are the very worst they could hope for.
Rain, and even better, changeable conditions, being the great leveller, the architect of some of the sport's greatest upsets, will be exceedingly welcome in the eyes of some drivers, and who's to says that a number of drivers, including Button and Schumacher haven't been doing rain dances in their hotel rooms overnight. And then there's Kobayashi.
Despite the fact that the forecasters promised us rain throughout the weekend, up until today we had seen just a few spots, though it has been uncharacteristically cold. With everyone on a dry set-up and no wet running we can expect fun and games from the outset indeed, we could be in line for another thriller. Maybe not in the sense of Montreal, but perhaps (hopefully) more of a Silverstone.
As if proof were needed just how bad it could be, David Coulthard spun a priceless Mercedes W196 during a demo run just a short while ago, almost taking out Mika Hakkinen, in a similarly rare car, in the process.
Other than the big guns, watch out for Sutil and Petrov, not to mention di Resta and Maldonado, while Chandhok will be keen to impress, certainly if he is to take part in his home race later this year.
Funny enough, as the pitlane opens, not only has the rain stopped, the track is clearly drying. However, there are dark rain clouds surrounding the circuit, the Nurburgring, like Monaco, enjoying its own little microclimate.
As the drivers make their way to the grid, some diving back into the pits so that they can complete another lap, burn off fuel, perform practice starts and get used to the track conditions, a few spots of rain begin to fall.
As the field heads off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 13 degrees C, while the track temperature is 15 degrees. The rain has stopped, but clearly there will be more. Indeed, Williams claims there will be a downpour around thirty minutes into the race, while Renault says fifteen minutes. At which point it starts to rain again.
Everyone is on slicks, the leading ten on the softs on which they qualified, and as the field heads off, and as the rain appears to stop it is unlikely that there will be any last moment diving into the pits for inters.
They're away, and Hamilton has the edge, Massa goes wide at the first corner while Alonso moves up on the inside of Vettel and passes the German. Further back di Resta spins while Button loses a couple of places.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Hamilton, Webber, Alonso, Vettel, Rosberg, Massa, Sutil, Petrov, Schumacher and Button. Di Resta and Heidfeld are running last after the earlier (unseen) incident.
Alonso runs wide and Vettel nails him, the German now 0.9s down on his Red Bull teammate who trails Hamilton by 1.9s.
As Hamilton sets a blistering pace Alonso is all over Vettel, as Button is passed by Petrov.
As the DRS zone is enabled, Vettel is the fastest man on track, he has clear air in front but mirrors full of Ferrari. Meanwhile, Massa is told that he is quicker than Rosberg and must pass the Mercedes driver.
As Buemi, who started last, Heidfeld and di Resta cut their way through the field, Webber posts a new fastest lap (38.189) as he maintains a 1.8s gap to the race leader. Button is all over Petrov.
Massa makes a move on Rosberg but runs wide whilst teammate Alonso is over Vettel like a rash. The stewards announce that they are investigating the di Resta/Heidfeld incident.
A mega lap from Webber (37.659) sees the Australian close to within 1s of Hamilton, as Alonso continues to harry Vettel.
Buemi is up to sixteenth, with Heidfeld 1.7s behind, while di Resta is 2.2s behind eighteenth placed Kovalainen.
Into Turn 1 at the start of lap 8, Alonso nails Vettel, the German unable to do anything about it. The Spaniard came from miles back, relying on some very brave late braking.
Kobayashi is up from eighteenth to eleventh, closing in on Button, as his team claims there is more to come from the popular Japanese driver.
At the end of lap 8, Perez is the first driver to pit, the Mexican having previously gone off at Turn 10. Di Resta gets past Kovalainen.
Vettel's race goes from bad to worse, the German losing 7s in S2 after spinning on hitting the white line under braking for the chicane. He continues but with Rosberg and Massa right on his tail.
It's all over for Heidfeld, the German having clouted Buemi's Toro Rosso. The Swiss didn't appear to see the Renault driver as he attempted to go around the outside of him. Ironically, moments later it is announced that Heidfeld has a drive-through following the earlier incident.
On lap 12, Massa out-drags Rosberg on the main straight, the Brazilian now 1.8s down on Vettel who is 11s down on Alonso.
Out front Webber passes Hamilton after the Englishman goes too deep at the chicane, but the McLaren driver retakes the lead moments later on the main straight. Fantastic stuff.
As the two continue to battle, Alonso comes out of nowhere and takes Webber completely by surprise. The Spaniard makes his move but somehow the Australian holds him off. The three are covered by 0.9s.
As the leading three battle, Alonso telling his crew he needs tyres "soon", Massa is all over Vettel.
At the end of lap 14, Webber pits, taking on a new set of softs, rejoining just behind the Vettel/Massa duel. Indeed, he rejoins in sixth behind Sutil. Rosberg also pits.
Next time around, as Petrov fends off Button, Schumacher pits, as does Maldonado.
Having made quick work of Sutil, Webber goes quickest in S1, and again in S2. As Hamilton, Alonso and Vettel all pit.
Alonso and Hamilton rejoin the race, but Webber's earlier stop has worked to his advantage, he is ahead of them and just 0.17s behind Massa who has yet to stop. That said, the Brazilian promptly dives into the pits, leaving Webber leading Hamilton and Alonso, the three separated by just one second. Vettel has rejoined in ninth just behind Massa.
On lap 18, Webber posts a new fastest lap (36.947), as he enjoys a 1s lead over Hamilton who has 0.7s on Alonso.
Behind the leading trio, Sutil is fourth, ahead of Button, Petrov and Kobayashi, though all four have yet to stop.
The stewards announce that the Heidfeld/Buemi incident will be investigated after the race.
As Hamilton posts a fastest lap (36.718), Massa battles Kobayashi with Vettel also nailing the Sauber driver moments later. The Japanese driver promptly pits.
Webber builds a 1.3s lead as he posts another fastest lap (36.551) as Massa, making full use of his DRS, passes Petrov to take sixth. The Brazilian, now given a little breathing space as Vettel is stuck behind Petrov, sets off after Button who is 7.3s up the road.
Vettel passes Petrov who, moments later is attacked by both Mercedes. As the silver cars pass him, they are involved in their own wonderful scrap, Schumacher almost nailing Rosberg, no quarter given.
As Webber posts another fastest lap (36.380), Schumacher spins at Turn 9, losing a whole heap of time and positions. Replay shows he, like Vettel, hit the (wet) white line.
At the end of lap 24, Button finally pits. The McLaren driver, who was fifth, rejoins in eighth.
After 25 laps, and with the leaders all having stopped once, it's: Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Vettel, Button, Rosberg, Button, Sutil, Schumacher and Kobayashi.
Just when he thought his day couldn't get any worse, Vettel is told that he might have a problem with his rear brakes.
Hamilton maintains a 1s gap to race leader Webber, the Australian unable to shake off the McLaren. Behind them, just 1.6s down the road, Alonso keeps a watching eye on proceedings. Elsewhere, Button is closing in on Sutil while Kobayashi is all over Schumacher.
Alonso is told to close the gap to the leaders, particularly Webber, whose tyres are said to be close to the end of their shelf life, the Spaniard duly responds by closing to within 0.7s of Hamilton with a new fastest lap (36.252).
At the end of lap 30, half distance, Webber pits, rejoining in third, as Chandhok spins but continues.
Next time around it is Hamilton who pits, thereby handing the lead to Alonso. The McLaren driver rejoins ahead of Webber who immediately attacks. The Englishman is having none of it however, and firmly slams the door on the Red Bull driver. Elsewhere, Button finally nails Sutil.
Alonso pits at the end of lap 32, the Ferrari driver rejoining ahead of Hamilton. Like Webber previously, Hamilton attacks the leader, however, Alonso is caught napping, the McLaren passing him around the outside in Turn 2. Phew! Phantastic!
Therefore, after 33 laps, with the leading trio having completed their second stops, Hamilton leads Alonso and Webber. The Australian, who makes a mistake at the chicane, heads Massa, Vettel, Rosberg, Button, Sutil, Schumacher and Kobayashi.
Maldonado is eleventh, ahead of Perez, Petrov, Alguersuari, di Resta, Buemi, Kovalainen, Glock, Liuzzi, Ricciardo, d'Ambrosio and Chandhok.
Under intense pressure from Button, Rosberg makes a mistake, thereby allowing the McLaren driver through. However, moments later the Englishman is advised that he has a terminal hydraulics issue and must return to the pits and retire.
On lap 36, as his teammate dejectedly climbs from his car, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (35.063), while Rosberg makes his second stop of the afternoon.
Hmm, Hamilton is told that at his next stop he will have to have his primary clutch pointed away from him.
Schumacher makes his second stop at the end of lap 37, as Hamilton extends his lead to 3.7s. Webber is 3.4s down on the Spaniard. Both Mercedes drivers took on softs so both have to make another stop.
Rosberg is all over Kobayashi, however, the Sauber driver is having none of it, determined to hold on to seventh. Elsewhere, Webber goes quickest in S2, matching Hamilton's lap time to one-thousandth of a second (35.213).
As Vettel closes to within 1.6s of Massa, Kobayashi runs wide, thereby allowing Rosberg through.
At the end of lap 40, Vettel pits, rejoining in fifth. He too takes on a set of softs meaning that he will also need to pit again. In a classic move, Schumacher nails Alguersuari on the pit straight after dummying the Spaniard.
Massa pits at the end of lap 41, rejoining still in fourth, still just ahead of Vettel. The German immediately attacks, but not too hard, realising that even fifth is better than nothing. Moments later, the German makes a mistake a misses the final chicane but doesn't gain an advantage.
Told that the prime (medium) is 1.5-2s slower, Hamilton is warned that he must make his softs last as long as possible. Vettel is told that his brakes are now OK.
As Webber slips 5.6s behind Alonso, the Spaniard is 3.2s down on Hamilton and closing.
As Vettel continues to shadow Massa, we could well be looking at a flurry of pit stops on the final lap.
On lap 44, Perez is the first driver to make the switch to the harder tyre. His rivals, indeed everyone will be watching his pace.
Schumacher and Petrov almost collide at the final chicane, both get it entirely wrong. The Russian, having gained an advantage should yield position to the German… which he does. Indeed, he subsequently pits taking on a set of medium tyres.
Perez, on the medium, is lapping 2s slower than the leaders. Indeed, next time around he's 3s off their pace.
As he closes in on Massa, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (34.587), the Brazilian responds by going quickest in S2.
Sixth placed Sutil makes his second stop at the end of lap 48, as Petrov posts his own best lap of the race… and let's not forget he's now on the medium compound. Perez' pace has also improved, clearly the harder compound is warming up. Nonetheless, which of the leaders will be first, or rather last, to make the move to the harder rubber?
"Tyres starting to go off," warns Hamilton, the McLaren driver immediately diving into the pits. He rejoins in third, 10.1s behind Webber and 13s behind Alonso.
Although the Ferrari crew is in the pitlane, Alonso continues. Indeed, the Maranello team has its tyres out of the warmers. Did McLaren blink too early?
At the end of lap 53, Alonso pits but Webber stays out. The Spaniard rejoins behind the McLaren, Hamilton having posted his own best lap of the race. All eyes on Webber.
"This is it Mark, push now," the Red Bull driver is told. However, he losing 0.5s to Hamilton with Alonso also improving. Elsewhere, Massa and Vettel continue their battle.
"Be patient, be smart," Vettel is told, "these are good points today". Out front, his teammate shows no intention of pitting.
That said, at the end of lap 56 the Australian finally dives into the pits. He rejoins in third, 8.18s down on the leader. It was a gamble, but they got it wrong.
Just what you want to hear… "OK Lewis, you are P1, you are 3s clear of Alonso and you are the fastest man on the circuit". It doesn't get much better than that.
Seventh placed Schumacher makes a late stop, the German rejoining in eighth, still in the points.
Vettel is told to do the opposite of whatever Massa does, however, neither of them do anything, they both stay out.
On the penultimate lap, Hamilton post a new fastest lap of the race (34.302), as Massa and Vettel both pit. The two nearly collide as the enter the pitlane, the German getting the jump on the Brazilian in the actual stop, thereby snatching fourth at the death.
Hamilton takes the flag, the Englishman scoring a superb victory in a most intriguing race. The rain never made an appearance but in the end we never needed it what with superb strategy and some audacious racing.
Fernando Alonso finished an excellent second but stops of the slow down lap, the Ferrari having run out of fuel. In a move the invokes memories of Nigel Mansell and Ayrton Senna, the Spaniard is given a lift back to the pits by third placed Webber.
Vettel finishes fourth, ahead of Massa, Sutil, Rosberg, Schumacher, Kobayashi and Petrov.
Perez finishes eleventh, ahead of Alguersuari, di Resta, Maldonado, Buemi, Kovalainen, Glock, d'Ambrosio, Ricciardo and Chandhok.
Ignoring the ongoing (media led) melodrama over Hamilton's meeting with Christian Horner in Canada, let's not forget the Englishman himself didn't much fancy his chances, dismissing any hope of pole and crossing his fingers whilst saying that things might improve in the race. Then there was Eddie Jordan's claim regarding the wheels falling off at McLaren.
Yet here we are, with Hamilton and his team taking a bona fide win that moves the Englishman up to third in the title fight and consolidates his team's runner-up spot.
Two weeks after the nightmare that was Silverstone, when sections of the media suggested that Martin Whitmarsh was for the chop, it's humble pie all round as the Woking team scores a might impressive victory - much to the delight of engine supplier Mercedes.
Thankfully we didn't need to rely on the weather gods for drama, instead it came from the people that really matter, the drivers, the crew and the strategists.
To check out our German GP gallery, click here.