German Grand Prix Preview
After a week off following the British Grand Prix, the Formula 1 title chase resumes at another historic track as the scene shifts from Silverstone to Hockenheim for the 2010 German Grand Prix on Sunday. The race returns to the Hockenheim circuit after being held at the Nurburgring last season as part of the new rotation of tracks for the race. This year’s edition looks likely to serve as a preview for how both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships will play out this season.
The odds makers have tabbed the Red Bull team as the one to beat despite the fact that they trail McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship and have been dealing with internal turmoil in recent weeks. Mark Webber won at Silverstone in the most recent Formula 1 race but only after an internal conflict threatened to tear apart the fragile team unity.
Webber was forced to surrender his front wing to teammate Sebastian Vettel before qualifying as Vettel was closer in Drivers’ Championship points to leader Lewis Hamilton. However, Webber’s victory combined with Vettel’s seventh place finish at Silverstone has vaulted Webber ahead of Vettel and into third place in the series standings. Webber was clearly still upset with the team politics after the race, and Red Bull officials have moved to calm things down by stating that there would be “no favouritism” shown to either driver the rest of the year.
There’s been little question that the Red Bull cars have been the fastest so far this season, claiming five of the first 10 poles. However, they have also been susceptible to mechanical problems and on-track incidents, leaving the team in second in the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren has been the beneficiary of the lack of consistency within the Red Bull team, as Hamilton and Button have claimed the top two spots in the world title chase.
While Webber won the German Grand Prix last year, it’s important to remember that the race in 2009 was held at a different track. The last time the Formula 1 series visited Hockenheim was 2008, when Hamilton made a furious rally through the field after a late pit stop to come from fifth to first and claim the victory. Another win at Hockenheim by Hamilton could give him some needed breathing room atop the series standings.
Both Red Bull and McLaren have to fancy their chances heading into the German Grand Prix. However, there are several issues on which there can be little debate and one of the biggest is that Ferrari is in desperate need of a strong performance to turn around their flailing season. Neither Fernando Alonso nor Felipe Massa were able to score points during the British Grand Prix, finishing 14th and 15th respectively.
In fact, Ferrari has scored just 19 points total in the last three races, one of the worst stretches of races in memory for the sport’s cornerstone team. They current sit third in the Constructors’ Championship, 113 points behind McLaren and closer to fifth than first. Alonso has admitted that the team almost needs a 1-2 finish at Hockenheim just to have a chance.
While there is the usual jostling for position at the front of the field, there has also been controversy among the sport’s lower-class teams heading into the German Grand Prix. One team that has been in the news is the HRT Team, although it hasn’t been for the team’s performance. Bruno Senna was replaced in his ride for the Silverstone race by veteran Japanese driver Sakon Yakamoto. Senna will get his seat back for Germany but Yakamoto will also have a ride as he will be replacing Karun Chandhok for at least this week — if not longer.
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