German Grand Prix Preview

Out of 19 races so far, it’s the tenth race of the Formula One season in Germany on this weekend at the Nurburgring circuit. Also, it will be the midway point of this season.

I know you guys are much excited as I am for the coming Grand Prix because it will have six German drivers on the grid and after all it will be Vettel’s and other fellow German drivers home GP which will make more exciting to watch and so I reckon it will action packed race as always.

Nurburging circuit is situated around the village of Nurburg and in the Eifel mountains. It has 16 turns, 60 laps and is 5.1 kilometers long.There will be a single DRS Zone. The DRS will start at turn 10 and at the exit of turn 11 the drivers will be able to activate the rear wing.

"The DRS zone has been set for the straight before the tight chicane, so we should see some good overtaking. There's always good action at the first corner: it's nice and wide, with a variety of lines, which gives drivers an opportunity to pass." Says FIA race director Charlie Whiting

Pirelli have confirmed to go for its P Zero white Medium tyre as the prime and the P zero yellow soft as an option. Unlike what we saw at the British GP where half of the circuit was dry and half was wet. So the tyre strategy will be important. It’s not yet confirmed if will see the rain during the race.

"Although they sit next to each other in our range, there is still a significant difference between the P Zero Yellow soft and the P Zero White medium tyre,"

"as we saw on the last occasion that this combination was used at the Grand Prix of Europe in Valencia." Says the Motorsport Director of Pirelli Paul Hembery.

Moreover, the circuit has less overtaking opportunities which will be a struggling point for the drivers. The weather here is not so favorable.

The last race was held in Nurburging was in 2009 and in 2010 the race was held in Hockenheim. Similarly like Spain who enjoys two grand Prix per year in Valencia and Barcelona, Germany had two grand prix per year. But due to excessive hosting fees, it has been a struggle to host the race at the both of the circuits.

Unlike British GP where we see a real passion from the Home crowd, will see the same craziness from the fans of the Germany. After all the two World champion drivers will be racing across the circuit and most important part is that they will have their own home team too Mercedes which will make the atmosphere more cheerful.

British GP which was two weeks back from now, we saw the action packed race. Notably the
following-
• Teams order, bad pit stop error of Redbull.
• Wheel nut problem with the Jenson’ MP4-26 car.
• Force India had a error in the Pit stops.

and offcourse many things to add on. However, the luck was with the Prancing Horse. Alonso did a great job. He drove well .They upgraded their car before the start of the British GP but this doesn’t really clear that it was a new upgrade on their car or it was of because blown-diffuser regulations??

“We have a few more updates coming for this weekend at the Nurburgring and then one further update for Hungary the following week. We are keeping the pressure on to develop as much as we can before the summer break,” says Ferrari Team Principal Stefano Domenicali.

Well last year it was Ferrari’s who had one-two finish by a Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa and in 2009, Redbull had a one-two finish by a Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. But this year we have been seeing how the Redbull is dominating in many of the races and so it will be a real fight between bulls, Prancing Horse, McLaren and Mercedes.

Although Force India did not gain any point at the British GP but so far the team is doing a great job. The performance is getting better and better. “a total of 21 points separates it from what would be an improved sixth” says Force India Chairman and team principal Dr. Vijay Mallya

I hope we get to see some fantastic performance by Adrian Sutil as he will be racing at his home GP.

McLaren had a bad time at the British GP. Two drivers have defiantly a strong car to compete and also they have been always closer to the Redbull. But this weekend will a tough one.

Apart from the top teams, I reckon Renault looks more competitive this weekend as they too have upgrades on their cars for the Germany Grand Prix.

So what do you think will McLaren have a tough time considering that Ferrari’s are back in the competition through the mid point season? Will the home crowd for Vettel will be a bonus for him to win the race? Or you think Mercedes drivers will have enormous pressure to show their best performance at the Germany Grand Prix or may be a surprise win from Schumi?

European Grand Prix Preview

After the two street races, third street race for the Formula One season will take place at the circuit of Valencia this weekend.

The circuit is situated at the dockside, the temperatures is between 30°C to 40 °C maximum in June. The track was designed by Hermann Tilke. It has 57 laps and 25 corners where turn 9 and 10 are the trickiest corner to overtake. It will be the debut of the Pirelli's Medium tyre compound in the race. Along with it Pirelli's Soft tyre compound will be used as the option tyres, two DRS activation Zone. Qualifying will be very important for the drivers at the track of Valencia.

Track has a variety of tight corners and has a very less chance to overtake. Its first inaugural Grand Prix was in year 2008 where Felipe Massa who drove from Ferrari’s was the winner. But this year Ferrari’s is struggling hard to beat their rivals.

Scuderia’s Chief Designer, Nikolas Tombazis is very optimistic despite of their lesser points for winning the championship title. “How well these next few race go will decide whether or not we feel we are still in with a chance of fighting for the championships this year, even if we are quite a long way behind in the points.”

He also added that coming four races will be very important for their team moreover they will introduce some more upgrades with many changes in their cars at the British Grand Prix.

McLaren has reason to stay more positive for wining the race this weekend after the brilliant performance shown by Jenson Button at the Canadian Grand Prix. Whilst his team made Lewis Hamilton had a collision with Button which lead him to retired the race.

Lewis has been in limelight since few races for his aggressive driving and over takings. Do you reckon is it because he does not have a fast car as Red Bull’s or that he is putting to much pressure on him while driving for wining the races?

Despite of many criticism, F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone defence that "I have seen a lot of drivers in my time, a lot of great drivers, I have seen them come and seen them go. And I tell you, Lewis is one of the best. People pay to watch him. He is a racer. He is exciting and that's what everyone wants. That's what people pay to see. Yes, of course, he is involved in some incidents, but if he wasn't then he wouldn't be a racer would he?"

Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher had his best encouraging weekend so far and for the team as well at Canadian Grand Prix. After being so close to P3, he manages to secure his place at P4. I hope that both the drivers come up with better results at the European Grand Prix

Force India’s drivers had a bad time at the Canadian Grand Prix. Both drivers ended up with the unsatisfying results for the fans and the team. Force India’s chairman and team Principal, Dr Vijay Mallya is very optimistic about this weekend race “After the low downforce challenge of Montreal, its back to high downforce in Valencia. We continue to push hard with the development of the car, mainly on the aero side with several small detailed additions this weekend.”

So what do you reckon, who will win the race at the European Grand Prix? Vettel can still dominate this weekend with his RB7? Will Force India be able to gain some points or better results? How stiffness is going to affect the setup of the car?

Hamilton: No reason to leave McLaren

There are many speculations going about Lewis that he might switch over to his rival team Redbull for the year 2013, as the Driver’s deal with the McLaren is suppose to be end in year 2012.

According to the Autosport, Lewis was seen with the Red bull’s team Principal Christian Horner at the Circuit in the Red Bull hospitality area for 15 minutes in a private at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Saturday.

On Tuesday, during the event at the Watkins Glen circuit in upstate New York. The 2008 Formula One World Champion was interviewed, where he replied to media that “I will have no reason to leave McLaren so long as they can give him a winning car". “I don’t see why you would particularly want to move when you have the most competitive car,”

Further more he added that he has lot to achieve in Formula One itself. He will never stop racing too.

However recently there have been many controversies about his attitude and his aggressive driving. The British superstar who won in year 2008 has fail to won the championship since 2 years. Do you think that the reason is because of the car which is not been as fast as Red bull’s car or his aggressive driving because of not wining any championship after the year 2008.

Well, I don’t reckon that the reason should be a car. He has a competitive car that is capable of winning races. Adding to his achievements, he won in China whereas his team mate Jenson Button won in Montreal. But the concern is that his car is not as fast as Red Bull this season. Vettel winning 5 times out of 7 races this year is somewhat to think about that if it at all affecting Lewis driving and the pressure towards winning the race.

In one of the leading newspapers “The Telegraph” Hamilton Said "I grew up wanting to be Formula One world champion

“I've definitely not achieved all that I want to. I'll definitely be spending as much time there until I do achieve what I've always wanted to do. In terms of where I am, I'm again just very fortunate to be a part of McLaren

"It's one of the best teams there, again with great history. We have a car that is capable of winning, as my team-mate showed at the weekend. We are the only other team that has won Grands Prix this year."

McLaren’s Lewis is a driver who is always ready to take a risk where he doesn’t keep intention to hurt someone else during the race. His keep the true passion for his driving. The only reason I could think is, he is frustrated about not winning the races which is leading him to drive aggressively and commenting silly jokes on Stewards and the drivers which leads his impression as a frustrated driver.

However he is very optimistic that his car can still win the races this year.

So do you reckon that he can win at the Valencia Grand Prix which is in two weeks from now??

Renault Kubica might come back to F1 this year

After the horrifying rally crash in February this year in Italy, Polish Formula One Driver Robert Kubica suffered serious injuries. His manager Daniel Morelli reckons that he might be able to race at the Brazilian Grand Prix in November this year.

During the crash he suffered a serious leg and arm injuries which lead him to spend 10 weeks at the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure for his treatment. However, He will go through the final surgery of his arm today in Genoa.

His manager said to one of the Italian newspaper the Gazzetta dello Sport that "Robert is progressing positively. The right leg is fine. If that was the problem, he would practically be ready. That's not our worry."

“The Italian GP is held in September, so it’s in just three months’ time, but we can think about the final race of the season.”

“In any case, when Robert gets in the simulator, he’ll immediately understand whether he’s able to come back, how and when, without the need of a stop-watch.”

Despite of his contract to race with Renault’ is firm till next year alongside Vitaly Petrov. Renault Team Principal Eric Boullier is not sure if he will be able to comeback this year or by next year. He also said that they are fully committed towards his recovery.

"We are now having discussions with his management to see how we can do it. But I would like to wait to see Robert's decision and then work out if we go to a different plan or not.

"I have been told he will be starting his full rehabilitation in August, which is late. But we have to make a decision around then." says Boullier.

Lewis: Vettel's gone he's on his way, they're very hard for us to catch at this rate

The Redbull' Sebastian Vettel won his sixth pole in seven races. He had a crash on Friday morning into the wall near the turn 13 and 14. Many of the legendary drivers had a crash earlier in the same wall and so the wall is named as the ‘wall of Champions’, where Vettel’s added his name to the same list at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

Although he suffered from the crash in the firs practice, the Red bull’s team did a fantastic job where Vettlel’s set the fastest time lap of 1minute 13.014 seconds. Whereas his team mate Mark Webber was fourth fastest in the Q3.

Ferraris did a brilliant job through the weekend. Alonso set the second fastest time lap in Q3 and his team mate Massa was third fastest on the grid.

We saw Lewis Hamilton who got penalised in the Monaco Grand Prix was struggling to beat his rivals in the Qualifying. He was fifth fastest on the grid and Jenson Seventh.

"We are just very slow this weekend," he said.”It appears the other guys have maybe made a step forward. I pushed beyond the limit on my lap because I knew we weren't as competitive as the guys in front. We're not in the worst position but we'd like to be higher up

"I don't think I've ever driven the car so hard; I was on such a ragged edge. I think I even touched the wall at one stage. I got everything I could from it, with also trying to use the tow of another car because we're so slow on the straight. We're 10km/h, maybe 12, slower on the straight so losing a couple of 10ths on the back straight.

"I just want to finish tomorrow and hopefully get some points. Vettel's gone he's on his way, they're very hard for us to catch at this rate. I don't know when we have anything coming but I really hope sometime soon we'll have something positive come to the car." says Lewis.

Virgin Jerome D’Ambrosio will race in Canadian Grand Prix despite falling to qualifying in 107% time.

Despite falling to qualify yesterday, race stewards have given him a green signal to race at the Canadian Grand Prix. Due to his best time set up in the first practice for 1: 19.414 seconds in qualifying whereas Vettlel had set up the time of 1:13.014 and with the 107% time cuts off was 1:18.989seconds.

 

“I am very appreciative of the fact the stewards have permitted me to race and I’m now focusing on tomorrow,” said Jerome D’Ambrosio

So we will see him racing today and he will start the race from the 24th position on the grid.

Sauber Sergio Perez is replaced by Pedro De La Rosa

The Mexican rookie Perez who suffered a crash at the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks back was very confident to race at the Montreal Grand Prix.

After the Friday’s first practice took place, he suffered a pain and so he confirmed that he will not be able to continue to race this weekend.

Moreover, he added "Of course I wanted to drive and I had no doubt I was all right, but apparently this is unfortunately not the case”.

Although he had gone through medical checkups on Thursday where FIA medical delegate Jean Charles Piette declared him fit.

Due to the absence of their reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez they called Pedro De La Rosa’s who was dropped by Sauber last year at the end of the season. As he drove for them last year and so it was very obvious that they would call him for the race. Pedro De La Rosa is a test driver for McLaren this year.

However,we will see him driving today alongside Kamui Kobayashi at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.