German Grand Prix: Catch it while you can

Germany’s relationship with F1 is a strange and contradictory thing. While more TV viewers are tuning in to see a German team (with one of four current German drivers) utterly dominating the sport, the German Grand Prix itself is an unloved spectacle, an on-off affair with crowd sizes more fitting for football than F1.

This year, organisers at Hockenheim are hoping to get 60,000 punters through the gates – that way, the race will break even. Alas, last time around (pictured), only 50,000 turned up.

And ‘last time’ was in 2014 – last year’s German GP was cancelled because the Nurburgring, Germany’s other F1 circuit, hit the buffers financially.

If there’s any reason to watch the German GP this weekend, it could be simply that the thing may not be with us for much longer – Hockenheim has a contract until 2018 and, if attendances don’t pick up, F1 bosses won’t be interested and German circuits won’t be able to afford the sport.

If you are going to watch it, what should you know?

Crystal balls not required

The track underwent huge changes prior to the 2002 race, with F1’s notorious designer Hermann Tilke stripping out the long straights and chicanes that carved their way through Hockenheim’s eerie pine forests (pictured).

As is the way with F1, millions were spent to produce a lesser spectacle.

And, although there are overtaking opportunities – including a lengthy straight – starting on the front row is almost as important as in Monaco.

Of the nine races held here since 2002, six have been won from pole and two from second on the grid. The other one? Won from third.

If your favourite driver isn’t on the front row this weekend, best steer clear of Paddy Power.

Mercedes blah-blah-blah

Hockenheim was built for Mercedes, back in 1929, as a test track, and Turn Seven is still named after the company.

There are no long corners, and cars with Mercedes power and decent traction will have a big advantage.

In other words, Mercedes should qualify well and race well. Big surprise.

However, this is the last race before F1 has its summer break, and both Hamilton and Rosberg (pictured) will be keen to end the first part of the season with an advantage – and there are only six points between them.

Theoretically, Rosberg should have a home advantage but neither he nor Vettel, for that matter, have ever enthused German crowds the way Michael Schumacher (pictured below) did.

Rosberg won last time round, in 2014, but Hamilton has tasted victory here twice, and has the psychological advantage of having overhauled Rosberg in the championship.

Yes, Hamilton is nursing his car because he’s gone through so many engines already but that won’t stop him pushing Rosberg hard.

They’ll battle it out in front of a crowd packed with Mercedes guests – and will have been reminded that this would be a particularly bad circuit at which to start driving one-another off the road again.

So, watch out for that first-corner action again…

Ferrari back on the podium?

They could be. Ferrari have really struggled to get their cars working in qualifying but their race pace is good enough to wrestle with the Red Bulls this weekend.

And they could do with some good news – this week’s departure of designer James Allison was a huge, if not unexpected, blow to the team, who have been told in no uncertain terms that they need to start winning or Maranello chiefs will wield the axe.

One problem for Ferrari is that Red Bull’s ability on the brakes and in slow corners may well make up for a lack of power.

Another is that, while Ferrari have a clear No.1 and No.2 driver set-up, the Red Bull lads are both going for glory, and pushing each other on to better performances as a result.

While Vettel and Raikkonen are both mature ex-champions, Ricciardo and Verstappen are young and hungry for success.

If the Mercedes disappear off into the distance, Red Bull versus Ferrari could be the most gripping action of the weekend.

Watch out for tyre wear – the race is a marginal two or three-stopper – and for fuel saving too.

Strategy could play a big part in this battle and, while Red Bull have made some bloopers this season, Ferrari have been kings of the Strategic Snafu.

This particular battle could come down not to who races best, but who screws up best.

Halo, halo, is there anybody out there?

The biggest talking point of the weekend may not even be to do with the German Grand Prix.

F1 is on the verge of introducing the controversial halo cockpit protection system and, as things stand, it will be a divisive decision.

F1 ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone is against it; FIA President Jean Todt is for it (and can force its adoption on safety grounds, whatever anyone else says). Teams are divided.

Chances are that it’s coming to F1, if only to avoid the sport being sued out of existence should a tragedy occur that experts say the halo would have prevented.

The thing is, there are other safety problems that are of at least as much importance and far easier to resolve.

As we saw in Hungary, there is confusion over what information teams can broadcast to drivers, and Jenson Button was left fuming after being penalised for what appeared to be help over an apparently serious brake problem.

And, of course, there is general disquiet over just how much slower drivers must go when they encounter double waved yellow flags, after Nico Rosberg’s controversial pole-setting lap in Hungary.

These will all be discussed in this week’s Strategy Group meeting and, as is the way with F1 these days, changes may be made instantly.

For the sake of the German GP’s future, let’s hope the racing is as exciting as the sport’s political shenanigans this weekend.