Germany – The prospects for the race
After eventful qualifying sessions, there is no doubt that the race will be the same. With stormy showers forecasted and a mandatory comeback required from the two Ferraris, numerous opportunities will present themselves to the drivers, with perhaps even a podium finish for Pierre Gasly, who could really use it.
What are the possibilities for Ferrari?
After Ferrari’s debacle in the qualifying, it is imperative to secure a result in the race to avoid Red Bull Racing dangerously closing the gap with the Scuderia in the Constructors’ standings. At this stage of the championship, the Italian team has 243 points compared to Red Bull’s 191.
The comeback should be swift for the two Ferrari teammates on the German track, which features two straights that should highlight the good top speed of the SF90. They need to avoid pitfalls and other race incidents to hope for 5th and 6th places, or even better depending on the performance level of Pierre Gasly in particular.
I feel for the whole team. But the points are scored on a Sunday and I will give absolutely everything to make everyone smile again tomorrow. It is going to be a fun race 😬
📸: @KymIllman pic.twitter.com/20Pp7FpcFk— Charles Leclerc (@Charles_Leclerc) July 27, 2019
The opportunity for Red Bull and Gasly
Taking advantage of the Ferrari situation, the two Red Bulls have managed to position themselves around the Mercedes cars. The start will be crucial for the Austrian single-seaters to keep a hope of victory. While it’s true that the Mercedes will have an advantage on the straights, the Red Bulls can nevertheless rely on their good chassis to elbow their way alongside the Silver Arrows in the final winding section.
Under pressure from the Red Bull clan, Pierre Gasly will have to seize his chance to turn this 4th place on the grid into big points, and possibly even a first podium for the Norman. This opportunity has never been closer for the young Frenchman, who could secure his seat a bit more with the Austrian firm, known for being so fragile.
4th in qualifying. 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷
Best day is race day. Ready to give it all. [pic.twitter.com/DRuhEVanL1](https://t.co/DRuhEVanL1) — PIERRE GASLY 🇫🇷 (@PierreGASLY) [July 28,](https://twitter.com/PierreGASLY/status/1155404274467254272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Pressure on Bottas?
Outqualified by his teammate and especially by Max Verstappen, Valtteri Bottas once again seems to be lagging in terms of performance. The Finnish driver’s initial grit appears to be fading as the season progresses. However, it is crucial for the former Williams driver to make a strong impression in this race. Indeed, the Mercedes team and Toto Wolff are deeply contemplating the choice of Lewis Hamilton’s teammate for next season. In the battle with Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas has only two races left before the break to reassure his hierarchy and secure his future with the German brand.
Big points for Räikkönen and Grosjean
With his superb performance in qualifying with a 5th position, the former Ferrari driver will have to make the most of this excellent position to accumulate maximum points in the Constructors’ Championship race. Currently 13 points behind Renault, Alfa Romeo Racing is clearly gaining in performance to the detriment of the struggling French team.
In the midst of the storm, the Haas team sees their driver Romain Grosjean achieve an impressive 6th place in qualifying while his teammate did not do better than 12th place. Having made the difficult decision to return to the Melbourne aero package, it seems that the Franco-Swiss is much more comfortable with this configuration. While this highlights a real questioning of the engineers’ work, the decision seems to be the right one in the race for performance. Now it’s about securing the maximum number of points for Romain Grosjean. This will bring tranquility to the American team and likely also provide reassurance about his future in the team. [Twitter content not translatable]
The Weather and Racing Strategies
The weather is expected to be busy this afternoon around the German circuit. The conditions will be stormy and rain is definitely on the agenda, with showers forecasted.
The tire strategies will therefore be focused on race conditions, and anything is possible for the different protagonists. The team strategists will have their work cut out trying to seize race opportunities amidst the wet and dry windows. Let’s hope for favorable conditions for the show in a season that has yet to see rain.
With the prospect of a dry race, strategies will likely revolve around two pit stops for the drivers.
Due to their shortened qualifying, the Ferraris have a wider range of tires available to attempt the attack necessary for climbing up the standings. #GermanGP 👔👔👔 #Fit4F1 https://t.co/DioScwtKsw pic.twitter.com/6bEY7ty5t8— Pirelli Motorsport (@Pirellisport) July 27, /f1/actualite/23475-mercedes-et-wolff-prets-a-liberer-ocon.html
