Preview: German Grand Prix 2013

Is there a grander and more gruesome track in Europe other than the Nurburgring? No... And therefore, it's the most difficult track in the world. And the Formula 1 drivers are only allowed to do the easy part of the track because no one would let real racing drivers (and Sebastian Vettel) loose on the Nordschleife!

I'm not even gutted that we don't have this circuit every year because the Hockenheimring is just as fantastic, but there is a sense of magic around this particular track.

Pirelli will not only be bringing the Medium and Soft compounds this weekend, they are also bringing restructured kevlar rear tyres after incredible failures at last week's British Grand Prix. At some point, Paul Hembery is going to have to admit that when driver safety comes into question, he's actually going to research how to build a half decent tyre.



Despite being a technically demanding 16 turn track, both tyre and brake wear is low. Downforce is often at it's highest, but the new tyres seem to be coping okay.

I am very well aware brand new tyres are going to disadvantage Lotus and play straight into Red Bull's hands, but I don't want something like Massa's 09 injury occurring to any driver. I defy any man or woman to think differently.

Not only are we back in Germany, I also got treated to the sight of Michael Schumacher this weekend! I miss him lots but his old Mercedes team are doing quite well in terms of getting their tyre management during the race under control. Lewis Hamilton's incident was in the fate of God, no one was going to stop him at Silverstone. If he isn't a good shout for pole, he's a race winning contender.

One way of fixing the tyre issue.

As is his team mate, Nico Rosberg. I don't want to jump on any bandwagons, but he is fairly close to becoming full circle. If he could just involve himself in a championship fight, we may see a real hero. Interesting fact, he wants to complete his 'home hat trick.' This is the three Grand Prix's where he has some sort of base. Monaco is where he grew up and lives, Silverstone is a few miles from Mercedes's base so he wants to win the German Grand Prix as he himself is a Native (minus the whole not living there thing).

Vettel can be considered favourite for most races, but never Germany. He normally flops at his home Grand Prix or in last year's case, gets himself demoted following illegal manoeuvre's. But just like in Canada, ducks can be broken. You would be foolish to count him out. 

Just like compatriot Adrian Sutil, I've never been too fond of the man and I'm still not, but the racing driver surely has given me some food for thought. In the wake be being shown up by Force India team mate Paul di Resta, Sutil has stepped up and has produced some wonderful results. I wouldn't count out di Resta too soon though, I think a podium is looming.

Fernando Alonso's main objective this weekend will be too finish ahead of Vettel. Even though it is not my favourite way of fighting a championship, it's the best way to play Vettel at his own game. With Kimi Raikkonen still trying to find some competitive race pace, and the fact Germany doesn't sit well for Kimi, this is Alonso's chance to pull away and gain at the same time.

It's a race that will separate the men from the boy's, let's just pray fate stays the hell away and let the professionals do what they do best: RACE.

McLaren MP4-28 + Various News

Lotus may have started off the car launches with the E21, but Woking based team McLaren hold the honour of starting off six consecutive days of car launches, a truly wonderful time for Formula 1 fans! I covered the launch live this morning and published a full report on Let's Talk F1. To see the new MP4-28 take a read by clicking here.



2014 Comeback For HRT (sort of)?

As the FIA published the 2013 season entries last November, Spanish outfit HRT were not included due to their financial instability and insecure future, thus only 11 teams will be appearing on the grid this season. 





However, an American/Canadian company called Scorpion have been attempting a buyout bid in order to salvage an entry onto the grid. Bernie Ecclestone even gave a nod to the bid but the FIA ruled out any possibility this year as the deadline is long gone, stating they will not accept any specialist circumstances. 

They shouldn't worry about pushing hard to get a 2013 slot because the regulations are more or less the same, meaning they would still be hopelessly uncompetitive. The best thing to do would be to develop a monster of a machine for the 2014 seismic shift in performance. They might even catch up with the rest of the pack!


Nurburgring Gastgeber 2013 Großen Preis (Nurburgring To Host 2013 Grand Prix).

Finally we have been guaranteed a German Grand Prix and will be returning to the wonderful Nurburgring!






Bernie Ecclestone has cast doubt over both the event and venue after the group who owns the circuit failed to raise the funds necessary. This means that we will most certainly have 19 races next season with the European venue still to be decided. Hopefully if anybody had any sense they'd be straight back to Hockenheim for both German tracks. That would be the definition of epic.

Time is Slowly Running Out

This is a message to Force India, Caterham and Marussia. It is time to get your finger out of your arses and get us a full driver line up. I'm sick to the death speculating, my #HireHeikki campaign has been working flat out (like 2 tweets every month, whatever), testing starts very soon and it's ridiculous how we don't know who's driving. I can't remember it every being this late!


The closest rumour I've heard yet is that Luiz Razia (pictured) has been linked to the Marussia seat but these are unconfirmed rumours and to be honest, I'd take Vitaly Petrov or dare I say it, Bruno Senna before another rookie. 

Force India launch their car tomorrow, I would like to think they would have the common courtesy for us the fans and Paul di Resta to name a second driver. I even think I'd take back Adrian Sutil at this late stage. 

Both Caterham and Marussia launch on the morning of the Jerez test on the 5th of February so at the end of the day, they have no choice but to name drivers soon.

This is however great for Max Chilton, Paul di Resta and Charles Pic as their team mates will be nothing more than a second thought, meaning the team will focus on them first.

Bitter-sweet exit Norbert?

I'm not sure what quote to start with tonight so I guess I'll just leave this space blank.

This is quite awkward post tonight because, there's so many stories and so many views on one point. To be entirely honest I'm not really sure what to make of it. So I'm going post each story, splitting the blog into bits and hopefully I'll develop a view along the way. It could either turn out to be a terrific blog or a complete dive so here goes.

Haug leaves Mercedes

After 22 years in Formula 1, German Motorsport journalist and businessman Norbert Haug is to step down from his post from Mercedes a company of great racing pedigree. In fact if you take away Formula 1 from the equation just to set Ferrari aside, the greatest manufacturing company in the world. 

He was at the centre of reintroducing Mercedes to Formula 1 in 1992 when he and Peter Sauber negotiated an engine deal.  After that he essentially re-branded the McLaren name as we all know today, titling it McLaren Mercedes.

There is no doubt about it, this man is Motorsport in his brain! Aside from Formula 1, he basically created the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) which if you're not as fluent in German as I am (cough, cough) is the German touring car championship. This 60 year old is way cooler than just a suit and a tie, he races in the Porsche Carrera Cup, tested an F1 car and; he came SECOND in the 24 Hours Nurburgring in 1985. Sufficed to say this man doesn't just sit on his arse.

But it's not all a love story. In 2010 his dream was complete of having a Mercedes F1 Team. However unfortunately due to whatever reason, even under the direction of Ross Brawn and with the driving brilliance of Michael Schumacher the team only managed one victory in three seasons (and that came from Schumachers supposed protege Nico Rosberg).

Schumacher's Opinion

It's also no secret that Haug was the one who pushed for Schumacher to become a part of the new team and Formula 1 again. They look like brothers in arms when they're together. They happen to be quite good friends outside the sport. It's no surprise Schumacher would be disappoitned and so outspoken about his departure. But this next article is the inspiration for the blog.

Haug's Reason

Bad results Norman. Sure. His dream turned out to be a bit of a damp squib of course. Although Schumacher is God and his stint at Mercedes is no way a bad mark on his status, it's hard to deny that one misfiring cylinder was always going to hurt the teams points tally. And one podium in three years for God is not good enough.

Mutual consent in Formula 1 is the same as every sport. It means jump before you're pushed. I think it's just too much to be a coincidence that the moment Lewis Hamilton replaces Haug's man, he's gone at the end of the season. And Hamilton's purchase was always branded as a Brawn move. I'm not saying he's gone because of Schumacher's retirement, maybe the company decided he's had enough. Whatever the reason, I hope it's not because of Niki Lauda joining the board because despite his driving acomplishments, I'd hate to see him directing Mercedes, they will almost certain focus the majority of their energy in Formula 1 and that will be devastating for Motorsport in general.

 At the end of the day he was chief boss at Mercedes. So I guess this won't impact on track, but I just dread to think that a Motorsport lover will be replaced with somebody with money in their eyes. Although this could maybe even benefit the team. After tasting victory and with Hamilton in his prime, he could upset a lot of the odds next season, maybe within two a world championship could be on the cards! You heard it here first!