This is the place to discuss everything related to the twelvth round of the 2006 season taking place at Hockenheim between the 28th and 30th of July.
The German Grand Prix Preview is available here.
The German Grand Prix Main Page is available here.
To submit your 8 'n' Pole Picks for Germany click here, to register in the competition click here
The 2006 German Formula 1 Grand Prix
Moderators: cmlean, Ed, The Qualiflyer, The Heretic
The 2006 German Formula 1 Grand Prix
Last edited by Ed on Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:18 pm, edited 4 times in total.
The latest weather forecast for the German Grand Prix (last updated 27 July)
Friday
1st Practice - 11:00 - 27 - Partly Cloudy
2nd Practice - 14:00 - 30 - Thunderstorms
Saturday
Practice - 11:00 - 22 - Light rain
Qualifying - 14:00 - 25 - Thunderstorms
Sunday - 30 - Partly Cloudy
Race - 14:00
Friday
1st Practice - 11:00 - 27 - Partly Cloudy
2nd Practice - 14:00 - 30 - Thunderstorms
Saturday
Practice - 11:00 - 22 - Light rain
Qualifying - 14:00 - 25 - Thunderstorms
Sunday - 30 - Partly Cloudy
Race - 14:00
Last edited by Ed on Fri Jul 28, 2006 12:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Selected Team and Driver Race Preview Quotes
Renault
Pat Symonds
Q: If we compare 2006 to 2005, you were in a similar position at this stage of the year, leading both championships. What are the differences twelve months on?
Q: Ferrari beat Renault on home turf in France? Would beating Michael Schumacher at his home race be an important win?
Q: What kind of performance are you expecting in Germany?
Martin Witmarsh
Gil de Ferran
Mario Thiessen
Pascal Vasselon
Sam Michael
James Key
Aguri Suzuki
Renault
Pat Symonds
Q: If we compare 2006 to 2005, you were in a similar position at this stage of the year, leading both championships. What are the differences twelve months on?
Q: Tyres seem to be the talking point of the 2006 season? Why have they seemingly taken on such importance during this championship in particular?The strategy we have to adopt this year is totally different. Last year, our rivals had a speed advantage and their Achilles heel was reliability. We were on the same tyres, which meant it would be hard to race them ? so we went conservative to benefit from their reliability problems. This year, Ferrari are on different tyres to us, so their performance is not in synch with ours. What's more, they have had bloody good reliability. As a team, we have improved our performance in every area, scored more points and finished more races. But that isn't enough this year, we have to develop aggressively and race aggressively too ? which is a much more fun way of going racing. In retrospect, 2005 seems almost boring in comparison!
Q: Where will the competition be coming from in Hockenheim?Tyres always were a dominant performance factor, and always will be. But in 2006, we have two teams, Renault and Ferrari, with their cars at a very similar level ? and each of them is on a different tyre. Added to this is the fact that tyres play a bigger role in total performance than any other factor. For example, in France, a 5% increase in downforce would bring around 0.3s/lap; a 5% increase in tyre performance would bring more than a second a lap. When this characteristic is coupled with the apparently equality between the leading teams, then tyre performance becomes the keynote of the championship.
Fernando AlonsoI am expecting a four-way battle between Renault, Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota. We saw in France that Toyota are right up there, and we know that McLaren are on the pace. No question, it's going to be a hard, hot weekend in Hockenheim. But we go there confident, determined to be aggressive. It's just the kind of challenge everybody at Renault enjoys.
Q: Ferrari beat Renault on home turf in France? Would beating Michael Schumacher at his home race be an important win?
Q: What are the demands of the circuit in Hockenheim?It's important to beat Michael at every race ? not just Hockenheim! We know that at this stage of the season, we have to be finishing in front of the Ferraris. But I think that a win in Germany could be worth more than ten points because of the psychological aspect. I try to win all the races ? but it would mean a lot to take the victory here.
Giancarlo FisichellaIt is a very physical track. The temperatures are always extremely hot, which makes it very demanding for the drivers. In terms of the car, straightline speed is still something you need in Hockenheim ? not like in the old days, but the circuit has long straights even now. In the slow corners, the grip is always low but you need good mechanical settings and a driveable car. It is a delicate compromise to find to be quick here, and not an easy one to find.
Q: What kind of performance are you expecting in Germany?
McLarenWe know that the Renault package is a very strong one, good enough to win races. At the moment, though, the tyre factor is playing a big role, so it is hard to make too many predictions about performance between the teams before we start running. But France showed us that Toyota are now at a strong level, so there are maybe four teams fighting for the podium. My priority in the summer is to race consistently, and get on the podium as often as possible. I have to beat Massa and Raikkonen. They are my rivals for third place in the championship and I know that if I am beating them, I am helping Renault for the constructors' title too.
Martin Witmarsh
Kimi RaikkonenFrance demonstrated that the MP4-21 has moved forward with regards pace, with Team McLaren Mercedes posting the fastest two times of the Michelin runners. We have completed the final test before the August break, with the next session scheduled to take place from Tuesday 29th August. There was a big focus at the test on work with Michelin to ensure we go to Germany with a more competitive range of tyre choices. The track demands a high downforce configuration, and the MP4-21 ran well in this environment at Monaco and hopefully that will be a good indication of performance in Germany this weekend.
Pedro de la RosaOur car has definitely been improving over the last few races, and we had another productive test in Jerez last week as the development process on the MP4-21 continues. Hopefully when we get to Germany we will be able to make the most of this on track. Since the changes were made to the Hockenheimring, it is now more about slow and medium speed corners than all out speed. As a result, it is really important to have good traction on the exits of corners to make sure you find the speed you need on the short straights in between. Also, this cornering means the brakes are put under quite a bit of pressure so we will run with bigger brake ducts than normal and for sure braking stability is key. I hope that following a result that was not what we were looking for in France, we are able to go to Germany and put on a great race for all the Mercedes-Benz employees and fans that will be at the track for the weekend, they are always very supportive so I hope they will get to see a good result for the team.
HondaIt was great to be back racing in France, and I am really looking forward to getting back out there again in Germany this weekend. The car felt quick, and hopefully we will demonstrate that a bit better at Mercedes-Benz's home race. I last drove at Hockenheim in 2002, so I have been on the revised layout. It is now more of a high downforce track, but you do need a compromise on the set-up to ensure you can challenge for position on the track by being quick on the straights. For overtaking, one of the best places would be between corners two and three, so the exit speed of turn two is very important. There always seem to be exciting races here in Germany, and I am really looking forward to racing for the first time in front of the home crowd for Mercedes-Benz as a Team McLaren Mercedes driver. The noise that comes from the Mercedes-Benz Grandstand is fantastic and I hope we can give them something to cheer about this weekend! We had a productive test last week at Jerez, with the test break we did a lot of work on tyres for the next three races with Michelin and also continued the development programme of the MP4-21, and I am interested to see how the car will now perform at Hockenheim.
Gil de Ferran
Jenson ButtonHockenheim is one of the more historic circuits that we go to, and it is quite appropriate that we celebrate our 300th GP at such a venue.
Although the track layout has changed over the years, one main characteristic remains: it is a track quite conducive to overtaking, regularly producing great races. It is an interesting combination of slow and medium speed turns which, like the previous few races, will provide many challenges for us to cope with, particularly temperature and stresses on the rear tyres. Both our drivers have done well there in the past, and so has our car, which is always positive. We were encouraged by the test in Jerez last week and it seems that we have made a step in the right direction. Hopefully these results will translate well for the weekend.
Rubens BarrichelloHockenheim is a circuit that I always enjoy and I have some great memories from previous races here after finishing on the podium in 2004 and 2005. There are some decent overtaking opportunities around the circuit and I enjoyed a good battle with Michael Schumacher for third place last year. It will be very difficult to achieve a similar result this time but testing went well in Jerez last week and we hope to see an improvement in our performance in the next few races.
BMW SauberMy first victory in Formula One came at the Hockenheimring back n 2000 so this circuit is very special for me, even though the layout changes mean that it is a different venue now from the track that I used to enjoy so much. It's still a good circuit for the drivers and the fans however, because overtaking is possible, particularly on the long straight with late braking, which can make the racing more exciting.
Your car needs to work well at Hockenheim, and with the hot and humid weather that we usually get, it can be a particularly challenging race for the car and the driver.
Mario Thiessen
Nick HeidfeldThe German Grand Prix is a highlight of the season for BMW, not just because we enjoy a lot of attention as a German manufacturer with a German driver in the team. The atmosphere at Hockenheim, especially in the Motodrom, is truly impressive. The current track, moreover, allows for passing manoeuvres, which makes for exciting race action.
Our sporting objectives for Hockenheim are the same as for recent races: we aim to make it into the top ten qualifying and hope to get into the points on Sunday. In the battle for fifth place in the constructors? championship, we?ll have to pull out all the stops. Toyota was clearly strong in France. We will maintain our pace of development, if not step it up further in the course of the season.
Both BMW P86 engines in Nick?s and Jacques? cars withstood the hot race in Magny- Cours without any trouble and in all likelihood will have to put up with high thermal loads again in Hockenheim. Added to that, Hockenheim remains an engine circuit even after its redesign.
Jacques VilleneuveAs the home Grand Prix, the German GP is naturally something special for me. A lot of fans are sure to come over from Switzerland too, as has always been the case. So I?m really looking forward to the crowds in Hockenheim. The unique stadium atmosphere in the Motodrom will also add to the mood.
Basically I preferred the old Hockenheimring. The long forest straights meant that you drove with limited downforce, a set-up that made the later, twisty part of the track very difficult. I enjoyed that challenge. But of course there?s a lot to be said for the new lay out. The fans can see more, the track is safer, and there?s a good overtaking opportunity on the Parabolika. In terms of its characteristics, Hockenheim is not a very physical circuit. But that could change if it turns out to be as hot as it has been on a couple of occasions.
ToyotaI have fond memories mainly of the old track. The current lay out is no longer a low- downforce circuit and is similar to some of the other modern race tracks we drive on. There are a few good braking zones as well as passing opportunities, which make the races interesting. It is likely to be very hot in Hockenheim. Recently, our strength has not been in hot races or tracks requiring a lot of downforce. We will be doing our level best.
Pascal Vasselon
Ralf SchumacherWhen we produced the TF106B the target was to allow for aerodynamic improvement. Since then we have had updates at most races and we have another one planned for the German Grand Prix. That means we will hope to keep up our improved performance of late. Hockenheim is one of the three hottest venues that we visit during the season, along with Budapest and Sepang, and the track temperatures can be in excess of 50 degrees Celsius. The old track through the forests was unique but the new layout is quite typical for an F1 circuit. From tyre side it is challenging for both the construction and the compound, with a predominance of rear limitation. It's down to the long straight, which is actually like a long corner. You have one good overtaking chance at the hairpin after the straight because the preceding corner is also slow and cars can run close to each other. This is Toyota's second home race of the year and there will be lots of the company's employees in the grandstands so it will certainly be special for us.
Jarno TrulliIt's always nice to come back to Hockenheim and I really enjoy the atmosphere, particularly because it is my home race. The fans are especially vocal in the stadium section, where the grandstands mean that there are people on all sides. On the old circuit through the forests the stadium used to be the main place to watch but now the whole track can be seen by the spectators. I like the revised track layout and the wide corners are good for driving fluently and maintaining a good rhythm. We normally expect hot weather for the race so tyre choice is important but our Bridgestone tyres have been excellent in recent races so I hope we can keep up our improved form. I had a good race at the circuit last year and worked my way up from 12th on the grid to 6th place thanks to good strategy work from the team. We did well in France and we should hope for another strong result on Sunday.
WilliamsEver since I first competed in German Formula 3 I have enjoyed racing at Hockenheim. Of course it used to be all about low downforce and high speed but the circuit changed completely when they changed the layout in 2002. Now it is a technical track where setting up your car is very important. You need to have pace through the quicker sections but you must also get the most out of the many slower corners. The only passing opportunity comes into the hairpin at the end of the long straight so you need to have good straightline speed in the race to make sure you don't lose out. Last year I had one of those incident-filled races where everything happened, starting with a puncture at the first corner, so this year we will look to make up for that. Our form has been greatly improved recently due to very good work from the team both at the race tracks and at the factory. I was unlucky in France but now we must look to give everyone another strong result to celebrate.
Sam Michael
Mark WebberAfter the French Grand Prix, we've been working hard at the factory, in the wind tunnels, and at the test in Jerez, to further understand and improve the performance of the FW28. In particular, we've been working closely with Bridgestone to resolve the tyre issue we suffered in France due to excessive inside shoulder temperatures on the rear left tyres. Good progress was made on this at Jerez and we have now changed the set-up to ensure this doesn't happen again. Jerez marked the final test before the summer testing ban and we made some good progress testing various mechanical and aerodynamic parts, some of which will be run in Germany this weekend.
Hockenheim is an interesting circuit, with mainly slow and medium speed corners, leading towards a softer set-up as the requirement for high speed stability is reduced. Due to the many traction events, the circuit is also quite hard on tyres, so the tyre companies are usually wary of blistering and make adjustments to the compound accordingly. Hockenheim has a great overtaking section at the hairpin so often provides some good racing action for the fans during the Grand Prix. Strategy will either be a two or a three stop on Sunday and can play a crucial role at this event.
Nico Rosberg?I expect we?ll experience similar temperatures in Germany to those we had in Magny-Cours. The track itself is pretty featureless and is not one of the most exciting places we visit. However, it has provided some interesting races in recent years thanks to the long back straight which flows into the hairpin and which provides good overtaking opportunities. The stadium section is obviously a famous feature of the Hockenheim circuit and, because it?s the only part of the track which hasn?t changed in the last few years, it proves a popular spot for the spectators. Given Michael Schumacher and Ferrari?s recent form, I don?t think there?ll be any shortage of German fans there to cheer them on.
Although our results didn?t reflect it at Magny-Cours because I wasn?t able to complete the Grand Prix due to a tyre issue and Nico started the race with a 10-place grid penalty, it was clear that we were just on the fringe of the points and improving our performance. Of course it is frustrating, it would be good to be running a bit closer to the front, so that is exactly what I?ll be trying my hardest to do at Hockenheim.
MF RacingIt will be great to race in Germany in front of people that I know and people that speak my language. I really enjoy the track and have great memories of it having won many races there over the years. After a promising test in Jerez last week, I'm confident that we can achieve a good result in another of my home races.
James Key
Super AguriHockenheim has a real mix of corners speeds and two long straights, which tends to flatten out downforce level options for optimum lap time. So we will be looking to find the best balance of sector times we can, particularly between the second sector and the winding complex in the last sector. As always, much will depend on track grip and tyre selection. Our partners at Bridgestone provided us with a good race tyre in Magny-Cours in very hot conditions, so if the current hot weather trends continue, we hope to have selected similarly effective options for Hockenheim. The M16 will have some new aero updates, which we tested in Jerez last week, as well as some additional suspension and setup options newly available for Hockenheim , so our development programme continues to bear fruit, race by race.
Aguri Suzuki
Note: Ferrari, Red Bull and Toro Rosso don't usually provide Race preview quotesI am very happy that we were able to go ahead with the long-awaited shakedown of the SA06. Although it was later than originally planned, I felt that it went very well for a first shakedown. As we have yet to run the car in a race it is difficult to say this, but I believe that this is the true start to our 2006 campaign. As the German Grand Prix will be the debut race for the SA06, it is possible that we are going to face a few teething problems, but I have every confidence in the capability of the car and the team. It is going to be Sakon?s debut race and I believe that his experience as third driver up to now should help him perform well in the race. Next weekend in Hockenheim is going to be like a new beginning for us and I am looking forward to it very much.