2008 German Grand Prix Preview

Paul MurtaghJul 15, 2008

Circuit: Hockenheimring

Length: 2.84 miles/4.57 kms

Laps: 67 2006 Pole: Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 1min 14.070secs

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2006 Winner: Michael Schumacher (GER)

2006 Fastest Lap: Michael Schumacher (GER) 1min 16.367secs

First held in 1951, the German GP is one of the most established races on the F1 calendar. For the 2008 race it will be returning to Hockenheim having been held at the Nurburgring last season. But both are pale imitations of the previous circuits that wrote the German GP into racing folklore.

Although the German GP pre-dated the F1 world championship, it didn't hold its first world championship race until 1951 at the notorious Nurburgring. The circuit was to prove to be one of the greatest, if not the greatest, circuits ever used in F1.

With over 150 turns and over 14 miles in length it was the ultimate test for both driver and car, with only the greats winning there. Juan Manuel Fangio took what many say is his greatest ever victory at the circuit in 1957 when he came from 45secs down to win over the Ferraris of Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins.

However, the withdrawal of Mercedes from Grand Prix racing hit the circuit hard with dwindling attendances, causing the race to move to the dangerous AVUS for 1959 before returning to the 'Ring in 1961.

The Nurburgring continued to host the race until 1970, when it moved for one year to the very fast Hockenheimring—a Mercedes-owned circuit requiring horsepower over driver skill due to its long straights joined by the Ostkurve at one end and stadium section at the other.

It moved back to the 'Ring in 1971, but after Niki Lauda's near-fatal accident there in 1976, it returned to Hockenheim. It then briefly moved back to a new circuit at Nurburg in 1985. Due to the unpopularity of that venue, it was back at Hockenheim for 1986. (The new circuit later held the European Grand Prix and Luxembourg Grand Prix from 1995 onwards).

Hockenheim was heavily modified in 2002 for safety reasons, ending the long straights and making it more like modern circuits. In 2006 it was announced that the race was to be alternated between Hockenheim and Nurburgring's new circuit for financial reasons.

As for the new Hockenheim, it received a warm response when the teams first raced there in 2002. Gone were the long runs into the forest before the return leg took the drivers back into the stadium. Now it had a tighter layout with a long back straight leading into a hairpin for overtaking opportunities.

Despite the new layout the circuit has given us a few memorable moments. In 2004 Kimi Raikkonen was chasing down Michael Schumacher when he had a rear wing failure on lap 13.

Later in the same race Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso had a great battle for second place, with Button taking the spoils having started in 13th place due to an engine penalty.

And in 2005 Kimi Raikkonen suffered an engine failure while leading, giving 10 points to his rival Alonso in their battle for the title.

Coming into this year's German GP, we have a closer title race than last season, with three drivers tied at the top with 48 points. But all come into the race with very different performances than last time in Britain.

Hamilton blew the field away and took a dominant win, while Ferrari teammates Raikkonen and Massa had a trying race. Raikkonen struggled in the lower end of the points for much of the race and Massa spun six times. Robert Kubica, the other title challenger, ended in the Abbey chicane gravel trap and it will be hard to see him claw his way back into it.

Further down the field, both Nick Heidfeld and Rubens Barrichello come to Hockenheim full of confidence after great performances at Silverstone. Nick especially will be wanting to capitalise on this at his home race, and a good points finish is a possibility.

Red Bull will be wanting to leap back ahead of Toyota in this race for fourth after a poor race performance in Britain, and Williams will be wanting to score more points having dropped off from their early season pace.

So everything is set. F1's first race at Hockenheim in two years will prove to be pivitol for the championship. And with Raikkonen and Massa having had bad luck at the circuit before, the gods could favour Hamilton, although he needs to do better than the 13th place he scored on his last visit to the circuit in GP2

Previous Winners

2007*—Fernando Alonso (ESP) McLaren Mercedes

2006—Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari

2005—Fernando Alonso (ESP) Renault

2004—Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari

2003—Juan Pablo Montoya (COL) BMW Williams

2002—Michael Schumacher (GER) Ferrari

2001—Ralf Schumacher (GER) BMW Williams

2000—Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Ferrari

1999—Eddie Irvine (GBR) Ferrari

1998—Mika Haikkinen (FIN) McLaren Mercedes

1997—Gerhard Berger (AUT) Benetton Renault