Four time World Champion Sebastian Vettel returns home to Hockenheim this weekend for the German Grand Prix. While the whole of Germany are still getting over their hangovers following their brilliant win in the World Cup last weekend, the Formula One circus heads to one of its most historic venues, situated in the Rhineland.
While Red Bull Racing has a pretty decent record in Germany; both Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber taking three podiums each, including a win, they have all come at the Nurburgring. Red Bull hasn’t fared as well at the Hockenheimring; Sebastian Vettel has taken just one podium here, back in 2010. There has never been a Red Bull German GP win in Hockenheim. The car should be okay around here, especially with the controversial FRIC system yet to be outlawed but will be monitored more closely, it will be interesting to see whether they can close up to Mercedes and Williams, who have been quicker in recent events. The team are expected to run without the device here.
No. 1 Sebastian Vettel (GER) – 6th
Form: 4/R/3/R/5
2012: Grid: P2, Race: P5 (P2 ‘on the road’ but given 20 second penalty)
While Vettel finally won his home race last year, his best result at Hockenheim is just third place. He has been on pole here before, in 2010, and had a good race here in 2008 but is missing a win here at the other home of the German Grand Prix. In 2012, he held a solid second place in the race but suffered a penalty for exceeding track limits, something which he was accused of last time out in Silverstone during that epic battle between himself and Fernando Alonso. While his form has been patchy, not helped by two technical retirements in Monaco and Austria, he’s is looking for a strong result here in Germany, and finishing ahead of Daniel Ricciardo for the first time this season would be a good start.
No. 3 Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) – 3rd
Form: 3/3/1/8/3
2012 (Driving for Toro Rosso): Grid: P11, Race: P13
Still one of the in-form men, Ricciardo has been somewhat shaded in recent races as the new star by his rival in the 2008 Formula Renault 2.0 series, Valtteri Bottas. Ricciardo still lies third in the Championship, but the new Flying Finn is chasing him down very quickly. His one trip to Hockenheim in a Formula One car resulted in another strong qualifying but dropping back in the race, and was very nearly overtaken by his team mate Jean-Eric Vergne.
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