Germany: the pilots’ perspective

The Hockenheim circuit is one of the great classics of Formula 1. After a first visit in 1970, during the boycott of the Nürburgring, deemed far too dangerous, the circuit located only 1h15 from Strasbourg hosted the pinnacle of motorsports continuously from 1977 to 2006, and it was necessary for an alternation with the same Nürburgring to be established to bring this series to an end.

For Lewis Hamilton, it’s a place built for racing. Vitaly Petrov, on the other hand, talks about a good circuit, rather technical, where finding the right settings is a good challenge. There is a long, long straight up to the hairpin, so we have a high top speed there, and it’s always important to be good in the last sector due to its series of fast corners, describes Mark Webber. It’s a circuit where you can attack, continues Jenson Button. And for Pedro De La Rosa, the track is almost essentially composed of slow corners except for the first corner, which is fast.

Interestingly, opinions differ slightly regarding overtaking opportunities, particularly within the Lotus team. Kimi Räikkönen bases his view on his experience: “The last time I came to Hockenheim, in 2008, it was difficult to overtake here. Not as complicated as on some circuits, but not easy at all. This year, with the tires, KERS, and DRS, it should be easier.” However, for Romain Grosjean, “the overtaking opportunities are significant. We’ll have to see the DRS zone, but the layout is favorable, and the races are always interesting here.” For his part, Lewis Hamilton believes that “the hairpin at the end of the parabolica is a classic overtaking spot, and the entire track seems to invite the car behind to try overtaking.”

For many, returning to Hockenheim evokes vivid memories. Indeed, there are many who lament the old circuit, used for the last time in 2001 and now reclaimed by Mother Nature. Originally composed of a long loop between two rows of trees, interrupted by the Stadium and a few chicanes added over the years, this track was abandoned for a shorter version to satisfy spectators who did not see enough cars and overtaking, and less dangerous—the circuit was notably the scene of the deaths of Jim Clark in 1968 and Patrick Depailler in 1980—for a more consensual result in line with modern times.

Regrets therefore animate some drivers upon arriving in Germany. Narain Karthikeyan has a rather strong opinion on the subject: “The new Hockenheim circuit is quite different from the old one, which was more exciting to my taste. Before, it was fast, but now it’s a slower circuit with high downforce, it’s also quite short, not too complicated, and it has a very acceleration/braking profile.” But the most nostalgic is undoubtedly Lewis Hamilton: “It has always been a regret for me to have arrived in F1 too late to race on the old Hockenheim track, where the circuit disappeared into the forest and was only interrupted by relatively fast chicanes. It must have been incredible to fight with so little downforce, engaged in a slipstream battle with another car, waiting for the right moment to leap and overtake,” imagines Lewis Hamilton, whose teammate, for his part, experienced this very atypical track, “a long time ago!” according to his own words.

Despite everything, the new version has positive aspects, such as the Mercedes stand, installed facing turn 8, all in the name of the Star brand. « I remember passing in front of the Mercedes stand when I was with McLaren, seeing all the fans holding signs with my name on them—it’s quite cool and even if this year, other names will be there, I am still warmly welcomed », reminisces Heikki Kovalainen.

Furthermore, it’s actually the best place to witness the popular fervor, recognized almost unanimously across the board. At Hockenheim, I especially love the Stadium which, in terms of driving, is demanding and exudes a superb atmosphere. Also, it’s nice for me to return to Germany after having lived there for two years at the beginning of my career. I spent the first year in Vilsbiburg, Bavaria, and the next in Berlin, explains Sergio Pérez. According to Heikki Kovalainen, the German fans are just as passionate as everywhere we go in the world and there’s always a good atmosphere here. And for Mark Webber, it’s always a good atmosphere. There are plenty of German drivers on the grid and there’s always enormous support behind them.

Precisely, for the German drivers, the atmosphere is even more significant. Sebastian Vettel and Timo Glock are practically the locals of the event, just a few kilometers from their homes: “Hockenheim is only half an hour from my hometown, so I have a lot of friends and family there and it’s always a special crowd to race in front of,” says the Red Bull driver. Marussia’s number 1 even goes as far as counting the days: “It will be a very special weekend for me, only 30 minutes from my family’s home. I’ve had some good results at this race in the past and it’s always nice to have family and friends around to share the experience.”

At Mercedes, it’s a 100% patriotic event, as the drivers, team, and engine are German – although the team is based in England – in addition to the grandstand which fully supports them. Nico Rosberg is also very close to his roots, both as a man and a driver: « I was born in Wiesbaden, near Hockenheim, and I have really good memories of my previous races there. Before my Formula One career, I won quite often on this circuit, and I will never forget my father’s last DTM race in 1995. I joined him on the roof of the car as it drove through the Motodrom, and that’s when I thought it was really cool and decided to become a racing driver like him. »

For Michael Schumacher, racing at home is not really an advantage, but he still hopes to reward the support of the German people: People often ask me if there is some sort of advantage to racing at home in a sport like ours and my answer would be that there might not be an advantage, but certainly a special feeling. As a German driver, naturally there is a certain excitement when you arrive at the German Grand Prix and you know that all the spectators in the stands are supporting you. This year is the first where our team has been able to fight at the front, and because of this, we hope for a lot of support from our fans and to be able to reward them with our performance.

Nico Hülkenberg appreciates his home race as much as his compatriots but remains realistic: « It’s always special and it’s nice to live only an hour away, so I don’t have to fly! The fans are always behind the race and help create a good atmosphere, especially in the Stadium at the end of the lap. It’s true that here Michael [Schumacher] and Sebastian [Vettel] will be the main attractions, but the fans always show their support to all German drivers. »

But ultimately, the most enthusiastic driver about the atmosphere is Vitaly Petrov. The Russian seems almost ready to swap his helmet for a guide position on the circuit, or even a ticket to the Stadium stands! One of the good things about Germany is the atmosphere, which is particularly positive at Hockenheim. The circuit is always filled with fans very similar to the British. They know a lot about the sport, and the promoters have organized a great range of activities for them to ensure they have a really good weekend, whether we’re on the track or not. The entire layout is good, and if you choose the right spot, you can see a good part of it, but one of the best places on the circuit is the Stadium. One day maybe, I could put on a mask and see what it’s like to be among the fans there! It would be nice to hang out there, but I think if I didn’t go in disguise, I couldn’t come back!