Beyond the Flag
Fansided

Formula 1: What to watch for in the 2018 German Grand Prix

By Kevin Nguyen

HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY - JULY 31: Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF16-H Ferrari 059/5 turbo (Shell GP) leads Kimi Raikkonen of Finland driving the (7) Scuderia Ferrari SF16-H Ferrari 059/5 turbo (Shell GP) on track during the Formula One Grand Prix of Germany at Hockenheimring on July 31, 2016 in Hockenheim, Germany. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY - JULY 31: Sebastian Vettel of Germany driving the (5) Scuderia Ferrari SF16-H Ferrari 059/5 turbo (Shell GP) leads Kimi Raikkonen of Finland driving the (7) Scuderia Ferrari SF16-H Ferrari 059/5 turbo (Shell GP) on track during the Formula One Grand Prix of Germany at Hockenheimring on July 31, 2016 in Hockenheim, Germany. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

As Formula 1 prepares for summer, the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring will have eyes on it. What will they see and hear?

As the Formula 1 circus heads to Germany for the penultimate round before the summer break, the driver championship is all but a two-horse race between Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Eight points separate the four-time champions in a bid for a fifth.

Their battleground this weekend is the Hockenheimring, a track where Hamilton has won at twice whereas Vettel’s best finish is a P3. While the attention will be on the two championship frontrunners, here is what else you should watch for in the 2018 German Grand Prix.

Toro Rosso’s pace

Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly showed definite pace at the power-hungry Silverstone Circuit to finish P10 in the British Grand Prix. With a more balanced circuit for the German Grand Prix at the Hockenheimring, if Gasly and Toro Rosso can show decent pace under braking and through the Parabolika (turn five), it could be a very good day for the sister Red Bull Racing team.

But more importantly, if Toro Rosso perform well, it’ll ease the tension that Red Bull Racing’s “not sacrifice Toro Rosso’s season” announcement has caused.

Steward discretion

After the blow-up over Kimi Raikkonen’s 10-second penalty for hitting Hamilton in the British Grand Prix compared to Vettel’s similar hit on Valtteri Bottas in the French Grand Prix when Vettel was only penalized five seconds, the stewards will be under a microscope in Germany for any penalties they may distribute and whether they are fair.

The Hockenheimring rarely yields a safety car period, so the stewards may get a pass. However, should the German Grand Prix feature an opening lap spin—and with Romain Grosjean on the grid, it’s quite possible—steward discretion with penalties will definitely be a talking point.

Hamilton vs. Vettel

While Toto Wolff is confident Mercedes have the fastest car heading into the weekend and therefore hope for a front row lockout, it would be interesting if Mercedes and Ferrari are split after qualifying.

More from Formula One

If it is a Hamilton-Vettel or a Vettel-Hamilton front row come Sunday, there could definitely be fireworks. With the championship fight being so tight, if one makes a mistake, the other will capitalize.

However, with both drivers on the same tyre strategy, it could come down to a strategy call race by the teams. So far this season, Mercedes have been too overzealous with their strategy calls and have made mistakes as a result of them. If the race comes down to a pit call, can Hamilton trust his engineers or will he gamble in the hopes that Ferrari will be taken by surprise and falter?

Next: Top 10 Formula 1 drivers of all-time

The German Grand Prix may be the penultimate race before the summer break, but it’s the final race for F1 in Germany unless a new contract is worked out, so let’s hope the Hockenheimring will provide a show in its swan song race.

Home/Formula One