2013 German Grand Prix, Nürburgring: Preview and weekend times

Not even time to understand whether Rosberg won or not at Silverstone (it seems that for having ignored the yellow flags he was remedied only a reprimand) that we find ourselves forced to look forward to the next round of the world championship, a race that promises to be hot, fundamental and decisive, both for the teams competing for the world championship and for the Milanese tire supplier, Pirelli.

Rosberg's victory in England is the result of Hamilton and Vettel's problems, even if the performance of the German from Mercedes was very respectable, as he threatened, or at least maintained the Redbull's pace very well. After all, it's a nice gift for his birthday! Perhaps we can say that Rosberg is the true one top of the weekend, without obviously forgetting Hamilton, crippled by his left rear, who made a comeback that lasted the entire race; Massa, who started excellently and was also hit by the curse of the left rear, forced to come back from the back, miraculously finished sixth; Vettel, retired due to gearbox failure while leading the race. And also Sutil, Ricciardo and Di Resta who have the points zone fighting until the end.

We place in the section “unlucky races” all the riders affected by what was called online the “early Pirelli New Year”. We're talking about Vergne, Gutierrez, Perez (also Hamilton and Massa but we've already put them in the top section). Webber's performance, on the other hand, is very special: he starts very badly, which is difficult to do worse, from fourth to fifteenth, but then slowly recovers and in the end even risks going on to win. And thank goodness he announced his retirement. Alonso is also on the borderline between bad luck and flop. If we said that his race was a flop all the Ferrari fans would throw heavy stones at us, but it's not us who say it, me Alonso himself on the podium. Ok third parties – he says – but the car isn't there at all, let's put a cross on it and look forward. It must be said that in any case Ferrari (or Alonso) always manages to patch things up.

Another not very concrete race for the two Lotuses. They completely get the strategy wrong at the dawn of the last Safety and Räikkönen can only suffer the comeback of all his opponents. Grosjean, on the other hand, is nineteenth behind in an increasingly difficult lap. It seems that the funding crisis at Lotus is starting to make itself felt. Black weekend also at McLaren. Our questions found a worthy answer: people were definitely supporting Lewis Hamilton. Meanwhile, amid general indifference, Button was unable to do better than eleventh place. On the other hand, we know that he never liked his home grand prix, but where has McLaren's honor gone in England?

Il traced of the Nurburgring it is at least as historic as Silverstone. Currently the track used for the Formula 1 race is 5,1 kilometers long and is of modern construction: in fact, it became necessary to have a shorter and safer track after Niki Lauda's fire in 1976. In fact, the real Nürburgring, what is in the hearts of all enthusiasts is the Nordshleife, that is, the 20,8 kilometer ring that winds around Nürburg castle, entering the villages of Adenau, Müllenbach and the Eifel woods. The construction of the northern loop dates back to 1925, 3 years after the construction of the Monza circuit, as Germany had no permanent circuits on its territory. Thus the Nordshleife took shape, with its 84 right and 88 left corners, and the southern loop was also built, which measured 7,7 kilometers and was used in smaller competitions. As mentioned, after Lauda's accident in 1976 the drivers refused to race on the Nordshleife, and for a few years the German GP was held at the Hockenheimring. However, in 84 the new track was inaugurated Gp-Strecke, the one where the Formula 1 GP is still held, built in a few years in place of the Sudshleife, which was demolished. But what remains of the poor Nordschleife? Tradition. Despite the economic problems that even led the circuit to be put up for sale, the green hell maintains its sacredness in the racing world. In fact, the track is open to anyone who wants to take a ride, and is increasingly becoming a place where car manufacturers test their vehicles. Furthermore, the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring takes place every year on the union of the old and new track, forming a 25,3 kilometer track. But returning to the context of Formula 1: since 2009 this track has taken turns hosting the German Grand Prix with Hockenheim, while previously it had hosted the European GP. It is a very demanding track for the drivers, which reflects the characteristics of the Nordschleife in a small way: curves with different radius and different travel speeds and ups and downs between the hills. This is why it is a circuit much loved by both drivers and fans, although it is not as easy to overtake as on other tracks. This year the zones DRS there will be two to facilitate the overtaking maneuver: one will be on the main straight, while the other will be the part of the track between turn 12 and turn 14, with two different detection points. There Pirelli brings the Yellow Soft and White Medium tires to Germany, as the asphalt of this track is not very abrasive and the tires require as much grip as possible. Parenthesis Pirelli: what a good impression the tire supplier is making this year. Then with the last Grand Prix we hit rock bottom: and luckily they were tires modified to avoid delamination. Now the drivers are reasonably asking to replace the tests for young drivers with tests for new tires: but can you imagine Vergne's face when his left rear seat exploded at the end of the Hangar Straight? This event too, like the previous one in Great Britain, will be broadcast live only by Sky, with Rai limiting itself to giving a live repeat in the evening: qualifying will be at 18pm on Rai 00, while the race, as it will usually be broadcast at 2pm on Rai 21.

Top 10 German GP editions

A difficult choice in which we tried to summarize as best as possible the editions of this Grand Prix held on different circuits over the years.

1961 edition: this race represents the return of Formula 1 to Germany after a year of absence and also with it the 100 GPs run since the inaugural one in Silverstone were reached. Race on the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife (almost 23 kilometers per lap), after 15 laps in the rain the competition sees the Englishman Stirling Moss on Lotus as the winner after 2 hours and 18 minutes, with Wolfgang Von Trips on Ferrari taking the second step of the podium followed by his teammate Phil Hill (poleman and fastest lap in the race), both 22 seconds behind the winner.

1976 edition: James Hunt (McLaren – Cosworth) wins the race and also dominates in qualifying, Jody Scheckter (Tyrrell – Cosworth) comes second and Jochen Mass, the Englishman's teammate, comes third. But more than for the results, the competition is remembered for the serious accident of Niki Lauda, ​​trapped in the burning car after crashing into the rock on the side of the track; he was promptly extracted by 3 pilots such as Merzario, Ertl and Lunger and was emergency transported to hospital. With his injuries not yet healed he will return to racing 40 days later, in the meantime the decision was made not to race along the Nordschleife again for safety reasons.

1982 edition: a GP held on the Hockenheimring which starts badly when, during qualifying, Didier Pironi hits Prost squarely, unseen due to the rain: serious fractures in his legs and, unfortunately for him, his F1 career will end here, when he already seemed to have won the world championship. His compatriot Patrick Tambay (Ferrari) won the following day after a daring race with several retirements including that of Prost and Piquet. Second place for another Frenchman, René Arnoux (Renault), the only one not to take a lap away from the first as happens to the third-placed Keke Rosberg (Williams – Ford).

1985 edition: course for the first time along the GP-Strecke (built using part of the Nürburgring) sees the memorable victory of the Italian Michele Alboreto on Ferrari after a long battle with Alain Prost's McLaren – TAG, exactly 50 years after Tazio Nuvolari's victory with Alfa Romeo on the longest track German. In this way Alboreto also extends his lead in the drivers' standings reaching 46 against the Frenchman's 41.

1995 edition: the first won by a German after many years. After an hour and twenty minutes Michael Schumacher on Benetton – Renault crossed the finish line first after poleman Damon Hill (Williams – Renault) went off the track on the second lap due to a trivial spin, thus leaving the track free for his opponent who will get the better of the English David Coulthard, Hill's teammate, and the Austrian Gherard Berger on Ferrari. In this way the German extends his lead in the world championship, bringing himself to +21 from his direct pursuer and which will be worth the world championship at the end of the season.

1998 edition: a weekend dominated by the Mercedes-powered McLarens with Mika Häkkinen first and David Coulthard second. Positions that will be maintained until the end of the race, including the third position of Jacques Villeneuve (Williams – Mecachrome). For Mercedes it is the first victory in the German GP, ​​which had not arrived since 1954 and is currently the only edition won by a Finn.

2002 edition: takes place on the renovated Hockenheimring circuit and sees the tiring victory of Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) over the two Williams – BMW drivers, Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher. Only 9 of the 21 starting cars reach the finish line, not including the two Arrows that participate in the last GP in the history of this team, founded in 1972 and which in 382 races never scored a victory, but still remains in the hearts of some enthusiasts.

2006 edition: last victory on this circuit for Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) followed by teammate Felipe Massa. In fact, the two Ferrari drivers exploited the advantage they had accumulated over Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren – Mercedes), after the team made a mistake in the strategy to adopt by bringing the driver back well in advance and thus canceling the pole won the day before. Of note is the last career race for Jacques Villeneuve, who from the following GP will be replaced by the third BMW driver, Robert Kubica.

2011 edition: raced on 24 July on the GP – Strecke saw the victory of Lewis Hamilton (McLaren – Mercedes) in 1h37'30'' followed by Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso and poleman Mark Webber (RBR – Renault). In order not to consume all the fuel and thus incur sanctions from the FIA, the Spaniard parks the car on the side of the track and is taken to the pits by Webber. For the first time in the season Sebastian Vettel does not reach the podium (in fact he finishes 4th), thus stopping his streak of consecutive trophies, the third longest in the history of Formula 1.

2012 edition: in qualifying Fernando Alonso on Ferrari was the fastest with a time of 1'40''621 at the end of Q3. The Spaniard confirmed himself as the fastest the following day too, beating Sebastian Vettel (RBR – Renault) and Jenson Button (McLaren – Mercedes), with Lewis Hamilton being the only one to withdraw due to a puncture 11 laps from the end of the scheduled 67. However, after the race Vettel was penalized 20 seconds for overtaking Button, as he had taken all four wheels of his car outside the white line, thus finishing 5th; in doing so the Englishman is second and Finnish Kimi Räikkönen (Lotus – Renault) climbs onto the lowest step of the podium.

Friday July 5

Free 1: 10:00-11:30 (Sky Sport F1 HD)

Free 2: 14:00-15:30 (Sky Sport F1 HD)

Saturday July 6

Free 3: 11:00-12:00 (Sky Sport F1 HD)

Qualifying: 14:00-15:00 (Sky Sport F1 HD)

Sunday July 7

Race: 14pm ̶ 00 laps ̶ 60km (Sky Sport F308,623 HD)

Distance per lap: 5,148 km

Number of curves: 15

Direction of travel: hours

RECORD

Test lap: 1:28.352 – M Schumacher – Ferrari – 2004
Race lap: 1:29.468 – M Schumacher – Ferrari – 2004
Distance: 1h32:35.101 – M Schumacher – Ferrari – 2004
Driver victories: 4 – M Schumacher
Team victories: 21 – Ferrari
Driver Pole: 4 – J Clark, J Ickx
Pole team: 18 – Ferrari
Best driver laps: 4 – M Schumacher
Best team laps: 16- Ferrari
Driver podiums: 7 – M Schumacher
Team podiums: 51 – Ferrari

Hall of Fame

01. 1926 R Caracciola – Mercedes
02. 1927 O Merz – Mercedes
03. 1928 R Caracciola, C Werner – Mercedes
04. 1929 L Chiron – Bugatti
05. 1931 R Caracciola – Mercedes
06. 1932 R Caracciola – Alfa Romeo
07. 1934 H Stuck – Auto Union
08. 1935 T Nuvolari – Alfa Romeo
09. 1936 B Rosemeyer – Auto Union
10. 1937 R Caracciola – Mercedes
11. 1938 R Seaman – Mercedes
12. 1939 R Caracciola – Mercedes
13. 1950 In Ascari – Ferrari
14. 1951 In Ascari – Ferrari
15. 1952 In Ascari – Ferrari
16. 1953 N Farina – Ferrari
17. 1954 J Fangio – Mercedes
18. 1956 J Fangio – Ferrari
19. 1957 J Fangio – Maserati
20. 1958 T Brooks – Vanwall
21. 1959 T Brooks – Ferrari
22. 1960 J Bonnier – Porsche
23. 1961 S Moss – Lotus Climax
24. 1962 G Hill – BRM
25. 1963 J Surtees – Ferrari
26. 1964 J Surtees – Ferrari
27. 1965 J Clark – Lotus Climax
28. 1966 J Brabham – Brabham Repco
29. 1967 D Hulme – Brabham Repco
30. 1968 J Stewart – Matra Ford
31. 1969 J Ickx – Brabham Ford
32. 1970 J Rindt – Lotus Ford
33. 1971 J Stewart – Tyrrell Ford
34. 1972 J Ickx – Ferrari
35. 1973 J Stewart – Tyrrell Ford
36. 1974 C Regazzoni – Ferrari
37. 1975 C Reutemann – Brabham Ford
38. 1976 J Hunt – McLaren Ford
39. 1977 N Lauda – Ferrari
40. 1978 M Andretti – Lotus Ford
41. 1979 To Jones – Williams Ford
42. 1980 J Lafitte – Ligier Ford
43. 1981 N Piquet – Brabham Ford
44. 1982 P Tambay – Ferrari
45. 1983 R Arnoux – Ferrari
46. ​​1984 A Prost – McLaren TAG
47. 1985 M Alboreto – Ferrari
48. 1986 N Piquet – Williams Honda
49. 1987 N Piquet – Williams Honda
50. 1988 At Senna – McLaren Honda
51. 1989 At Senna – McLaren Honda
52. 1990 At Senna – McLaren Honda
53. ​​1991 N Mansell – Williams Renault
54. ​​1992 N Mansell – Williams Renault
55. 1993 A Prost – Williams Renault
56. 1994 G Berger – Ferrari
57. 1995 M Schumacher – Benetton Renault
58. 1996 D Hill – Williams Renault
59. 1997 G Berger – Benetton Renault
60. ​​1998 M Hakkinen – McLaren Mercedes
61. 1999 E Irvine – Ferrari
62. 2000 R Barrichello – Ferrari
63. 2001 R Schumacher – Williams BMW
64. 2002 M Schumacher – Ferrari
65. 2003 J Montoya – Williams BMW
66. 2004 M Schumacher – Ferrari
67. 2005 F Alonso – Renault
68. 2006 M Schumacher – Ferrari
69. 2008 L Hamilton – McLaren Mercedes
70. 2009 M Webber – Red Bull Renault
71. 2010 F Alonso – Ferrari
72. 2011 L Hamilton – McLaren Mercedes 73. 2012 F Alonso – Ferrari

Matteo Bramati, Andrea Villa.