2018 German Grand Prix
Formula 1, Round 11
22 July 2018 – 15h10 CAT
Hockenheimring, Hockenheim
The German currently holds an eight-point lead over Hamilton following his victory at Silverstone in the British Grand Prix earlier in the month.
The Mercedes team leader looked set to win on his home turf, but was tagged by Kimi Raikkonen early in the race. Hamilton put in a brilliant recovery drive to finish second, but still lost ground on his Ferrari rival.
The last German Grand Prix was held in 2016 and saw Hamilton claim victory ahead of the Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen. The Australian is likely to have a new engine for this weekend’s race, meaning he is likely to have a grid penalty.
Yet Ricciardo insists that Mercedes look vulnerable after recent slip-ups and reliability issues, making this race at a track which should suit their cars far from a certainty in terms of victory or even podium finishes.
Vettel has traditionally not performed strongly at his home Grand Prix, winning it just once, while the only other drivers in the field to taste success at the Hockenheimring are three-time winners Hamilton (2008, 2011, 2016) and Fernando Alonso (2005, 2010, 2012).
Alonso has already written off McLaren’s hopes of being competitive, saying their MCL33 car is not suited to Hockenheim, while the midfield battle between the likes of Renualt, Haas and Force India is expected to be very tight.
German Grand Prix – Race Information
Hockenheimring, Hockenheim
Length: 4.574 km
Laps: 67, 306.442 km
Number of times held: 76
First held: 1926
Most wins, driver: Rudolf Caracciola, 6
Most wins, constructor: Ferrari, 22
Last race (2016)
Pole position: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), 1:14.363
Podium: 1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 2. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), 3. Max Vertappen (Red Bull)
Fastest lap: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), 1:18.442
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Last five winners
2016 – Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2014 – Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2013 – Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2012 – Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2011 – Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2018 Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship top five
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), 171 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), 163
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari), 116
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), 106
5. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), 104
2018 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship top five
1. Ferrari, 287 points
2. Mercedes, 267
3. Red Bull, 199
4. Renault, 70
5. Haas, 51
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