Hockenheim 2014

[J.Clark]

This is one of two races left before the summer break.
This is a circuit I hope to see someday.  I always enjoyed Germany and I think Hockenheim, in the southwest would be a nice city to visit as well.

Hockenheim is a circuit that has been a formula 1 staple for many years.  It was first raced long before formula 1.  It began in 1932.  It was, as were many circuits in the early days, a series of connecting roads in the forest.  Originally used for motorcycles primarily, it would become a circuit for automobiles in 1936 as a test track for Mercedes.  In many ways, it was so much like other circuits in that it was much longer; although, not so long as the famous Nordschleife.

As late as 1960, it was still a very long circuit.  It wasn't shortened to something close to the present layout, until 2001.  During that time there were two chicanes added.  One named for Senna and the other for Jim Clark after his death in 1968.

With the old design, which had very long straights, the attrition rate was fairly high, with less than half of the cars finishing in several races.  It was also not particularly good from a fan's point of view, because most of the overtaking happened at the chicanes, out in the forest.  In 2002, the new track layout was first raced.  It was much better, according to both fans and drivers.

There were periods when the circuit was not used.  For example, 1985, when the German Grand Prix was held at the Nurburgring.  After that it was back in Hockenheim more-or-less permanently.  The reconfigured Nurburgring was the site of the European Grand Prix at other times, but not the German Grand Prix.

The current design has been used for a dozen years now and has provided some good racing, if not spectacular.  It is 4.5km in length, with just one DRS zone, which will be on the long, flat-out left curve of a back stretch.  There are 17 curves/turns with boring names like North curve, South curve, hairpin . . .
Kimi holds the track record at 1:13.780 set back in 2004 in a McLaren.

The current field's previous winners are Vettel, Alonso (3), Hamilton (2), Schumacher and Barrichello and Webber each won it as well.

It should be interesting, based upon recent races, to see who has truly made gains on their aeros and other tweeks, especially since this is another track with some very long straight, or very nearly straight runs.

[Irisado]

I preferred the old track.  Yes, it meant that engine power dictated the grid order, but it was so different to the majority of the other circuits that it offered a diverse experience for the viewing public and the drivers.  In view of the homogeneous design of so many of the new tracks, I get the impression that the old layout is missed much more now than it was when it was first done away with.

[cosworth151]

As i recall, the stated reasons for the 2001 Tilke-ization of the circuit was security and safety worries with the forested section of the track. Sadly, that section was ripped up & planted over, so that it could never be used again.

I, too, much preferred the earlier version.

[Scott]

The parabolica looks a lot more daunting at Monza 

I remember when they used to scream back into the 'stadium' section when it was the old track.  It was too bad it had to be done away with, but the cost of upgrading it to the latest safety standards would have been impossible to do and still have a profit left over for Bernie. 

[F1fanaticBD]

Anyone who have seen the old one, cannot prefer the new one. It used to be challenging for the engineers to set up the car, challenging for the drivers to maintain that high speed and it was atricious race in terms of reliability. Like Spa there were many occasions when half the track was dry while the other half was wet, ensuring greater drivers getting the bigger prizes.

[J.Clark]

I found this pole lap by Schumacher on the old layout.  I miss the V-10s too. 

[Scott]

I found this pole lap by Schumacher on the old layout.  I miss the V-10s too. 

Just amazing the speed they are going through 3/4 of the track and not a fan in sight.  From an onboard perspective, the stadium bit seems a bit tame compared to the rest.

[Irisado]

It was just an adventure riding with the drivers as they went out into the forest.  That experience has forever been lost now.  Such a pity.

[J.Clark]

FFP1:
1. Rosberg   Mercedes   1m 19.131s 29 laps
2. Hamilton   Mercedes   1m 19.196s 25 laps
3. Alonso   Ferrari   1m 19.423s 21 laps
4. Ricciardo   Red Bull   1m 19.697s 27 laps
5. Button   McLaren   1m 19.833s 24 laps
6. Vettel   Red Bull   1m 20.097s 28 laps
7. Magnussen   McLaren   1m 20.105s 32 laps
8. Raikkonen   Ferrari   1m 20.210s 21 laps
9. Kvyat   Toro Rosso   1m 20.337s 28 laps
10. Sutil   Sauber   1m 20.505s 18 laps
11. Massa   Williams   1m 20.542s 19 laps
12. Vergne    Toro Rosso   1m 20.586s 23 laps
13. Hulkenberg   Force India   1m 20.592s 22 laps
14. Perez   Force India   1m 20.598s 24 laps
15. Wolff   Williams   1m 20.769s 22 laps
16. van der Garde   Sauber   1m 20.782s 23 laps
17. Grosjean   Lotus   1m 21.603s 20 laps
18. Maldonado   Lotus   1m 21.854s 30 laps
19. Kobayashi   Caterham   1m 22.572s 31 laps
20. Bianchi    Marussia   1m 22.982s 24 laps
21. Ericsson   Caterham   1m 23.256s 35 laps
22. Chilton      Marussia   1m 23.299s 22 laps

At first glance, Ferrari, Red Bull and McLaren look to have made something of a leap forward, while Williams may have fallen back a notch.  Lotus seems stuck in a rut.  It is only FFP1 so who knows what will come about in FFP2.

It is good to see Suzie get some laps, not to mention that her times are good compared to those around her.

[Irisado]

A quiet practice overall with no real surprises.  I haven't seen the pictures yet, as the BBC haven't compiled their highlights package for practice two yet, but it seems that Kobayashi's Caterham caught fire rather spectacularly.  This would explain why he was slowest in the second session.

Mercedes look strong again, then it looks like a relatively close battle between Ferrari, Red Bull, and possibly McLaren behind.

Susie Wolff did well, and I'm pleased that she managed to show what she was capable of.

[Monty]

really good result for Susie and it looks like her performance was putting pressure on Massa as he went of after his fast lap.
I hope we see her again.

[J.Clark]

FFP2 time sheet:
1. Hamilton   Mercedes   1m 18.341s 38 laps
2. Rosberg     Mercedes   1m 18.365s 39 laps
3. Ricciardo    Red Bull   1m 18.443s 35 laps
4. Raikkonen    Ferrari   1m 18.887s 38 laps
5. Magnussen    McLaren   1m 18.960s 40 laps
6. Massa    Williams   1m 19.024s 36 laps
7. Button    McLaren   1m 19.221s 40 laps
8. Vettel   Red Bull   1m 19.248s 35 laps
9. Alonso    Ferrari   1m 19.329s 32 laps
10. Bottas    Williams   1m 19.385s 34 laps
11. Sutil    Sauber   1m 19.417s 41 laps
12. Kvyat    Toro Rosso   1m 19.452s 27 laps
13. Perez   Force India   1m 19.581s 28 laps
14. Hulkenberg   Force India   1m 19.593s 32 laps
15. Vergne    Toro Rosso   1m 19.760s 32 laps
16. Maldonado   Lotus   1m 20.158s 35 laps
17. Grosjean   Lotus   1m 20.358s 35 laps
18. Gutierrez   Sauber   1m 20.504s 40 laps
19. Bianchi   Marussia   1m 21.328s 31 laps
20. Ericsson   Caterham   1m 21.870s 21 laps
21. Chilton   Marussia   1m 21.898s 28 laps
22. Kobayashi   Caterham   1m 23.728s 12 laps

Interesting and subtle mix - P3, 4, 5.  Ricciardo not too much of a surprise, but Kimi not only ahead of Alonso, but also Massa and Button.  Magnussen up there with him . . .

If this is any indication of things to come tomorrow morning and afternoon in qualifying, I'll be surprised again.

I guess that Lotus didn't come up to what Grojean had anticipated.

[J.Clark]

Saturday morning - FP3 results:
1. Rosberg   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 17.779s
2. Hamilton   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 18.380s
3. Alonso    Ferrari-Ferrari   1m 18.384s
4. Massa    Williams-Mercedes   1m 18.575s
5. Bottas    Williams-Mercedes   1m 18.611s
6. Magnussen    McLaren-Mercedes   1m 18.756s
7. Ricciardo   Red Bull-Renault   1m 18.769s
8. Raikkonen   Ferrari-Ferrari   1m 18.842s
9. Vettel   Red Bull-Renault   1m 18.890s
10. Hulkenberg   Force India-Mercedes   1m 19.127s
11. Kvyat     Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 19.131s
12. Vergne   Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 19.470s
13. Button   McLaren-Mercedes   1m 19.489s
14. Perez       Force India-Mercedes   1m 19.505s
15. Gutierrez   Sauber-Ferrari   1m 19.601s
16. Grosjean   Lotus-Renault   1m 20.078s
17. Bianchi   Marussia-Ferrari   1m 20.198s
18. Maldonado     Lotus-Renault   1m 20.466s
19. Sutil      Sauber-Ferrari   1m 20.844s
20. Kobayashi   Caterham-Renault   1m 21.018s
21. Ericsson   Caterham-Renault   1m 23.077s
22. Chilton   Marussia-Ferrari   1m 23.449s

Order seems to be more-or-less restored to the predictable.
Qualifying in an hour.

[J.Clark]

Since there are no comments about the race, I will withhold my posting on it until after more comments are up - don't want to ruin it for anyone.

[Scott]

hehe...

I'm sorry more of you don't join us on chat during races.  Of course I understand the odd excuse for something else planned, but anyone who watches the race live should try it out.  Only compliments the race, not a distraction.

Now for my heroes...

The race.  Hands down, best racing of this year, last year and maybe even longer.  Great fun to watch, for a change too much happening at the same time so the director couldn't keep up.  Sponsors won't be happy about Nico's car not being on TV from oh, lap 0.1 until the last 4 turns.

Good for Rosberg though.  Not a step wrong all weekend.  Perfect Q, perfect race, hands down deserved winner.

Bottas - a bit hard to listen to Brundle trundle on every other race about who he thinks will be a future WDC.  Good for you Martin, so you might think.  But Vettel's form should show us pretty clearly that the cars have to flatter the drivers, and fortunately for Bottas, the Williams is sitting pretty this year.  Nothing to take from Bottas, I'm just ranting about Brundle.  Bottas drove a great race, and as the last few laps showed, he managed his tires just a little bit better than Hamilton (though Merc didn't do Hammy any favours by stretching out his first stint hoping for rain or a SC).

Hammy - from 20th to 3rd.  Fun to watch, great fun to watch.  Battle with Ricciardo being the highlight.  Yes, Hamilton probably would have won it if he hadn't had the brake failure in Q.  He was that fast.  I don't know why he was whining about his wing not going to make it, it sure looked ok to me, just missing the side plate.  No big deal.  A few years ago a broken wing actually helped Kimi with his lap times.

Vettel profited from Ricciardo's bad luck today, otherwise he would have been 5th because Ricciardo was back in 17th after turn 1 and would have easily caught and passed Vettel with the speed he showed today.  Another highlight of the race to watch Daniel make really, really brave moves on his charge through the field.  Other than a short duel with Alonso, Vettel was rather unspectacular today.

Alonso once again brought the Ferrari at least a few places higher than it should have been, though I think Ferrari had some bad strategy choices today and could have tried each car on a different one.  Kimi was really bullied today, but still seems to struggle with the Ferrari.

Honourable mention for the next 6 drivers, Hulk and Button yo-yo-ing up and down the field, Perez battling anyone who would come near him (and probably getting a good talking to after the race by his race engineer who seemed to run out of patience with him on the radio), even the Lotus's were putting up a good fight.

The crash...well, BD and I thought it was clearly Magnussen's fault.  My reasoning is that Magnussen should have been on the brakes when Massa went for the Apex, it was his corner and Magnussen scooped him over with his wing and front tire, so why was it was considered a racing incident when if Maldo had done it he would be 10 places back next race?  I like Magnussen, and generally thing he is a pretty good driver, but I have to put him at fault.  Kind of like blood in hockey, if an F1 car goes on its lid, there should be some sort of punishment for the car that caused it.

That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it...