F1 Update from the iSport F1 Pitstop: Mclaren and their f-duct will be the key to victory in the German Grand Prix writes iSporter Avinash Ranganatha on his iSport debut.
Round eleven of the 2010 Season takes us to the Germany at the famous Hokenheim Ring. This is one of the difficult tracks in the calendar, which has a combination of slow and medium corners and coupled with extra long straights. I’m interested to see McLaren drivers, especially Jenson Button who will be hoping to have a better qualifying session compared to the last GP. Championship leader, Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to get one better of the Redbull drivers but I don’t think it will be that easy. What’s more, FIA spicing things up with their mid season rules adjust/amends, Alonso’s unhappy with the car and FIA, the heat inside the Ferrari camp, unorthodox driving by Lewis, stewards’ debatable decisions, this season has been entertaining like no other seasons in recent times. With rain predictions over the weekend, this race is going to be a cracker.
This race for me, brings back the memory of old Hokenheim circuit, year 2000 where Rubens Barrichello won the race starting form 18th on the grid under the changing weather conditions. Also, who can forget Lewis Hamilton’s 2008 victory from pole.
McLaren are looking to have their blown diffusers upgrade on both the cars over this weekend, which they had scrapped after the last first practice in the last race. We have to see if they go ahead with the upgrades after the practice sessions and use them in qualifying and the race. Hope that it gives the team that extra pace over a single lap to catch the Red Bulls and eventually the overall edge. Though McLaren’s have one of the fastest cars in the race this year, they are still struggling over a single lap compared to the Bulls. Typically this year, Bulls have been quickest on traction out of the slow and medium speed corners but McLaren have been the one of fastest cars on the straights.
With Ferrari’s showing pace at the end of practice 2, it could become eight horse race McLaren, Redbulls, Ferrari and Mercedes fighting for podium places. Lewis crashed in first practice session under extremely wet condition damaging front wing and rear suspension. Adrian Sutil and Fernando Alonso topped the first and second practice sessions respectively. Mercedes’ Nico and Schumi finished a respectable 4th and 5th in drying conditions of practice 2 where Jenson Button was struggling in 15th place.
Weather wise, it could rain during the race but definite rain is expected for qualifying. If it rains, I see Mclaren, especially Jenson Button doing very well and Rubens Barrichello in his Williams giving a pretty good result for Williams and of course, Fernando Alonso, the rain specialist. Do not forget the old man of F1, Michael Schumacher to burn the field if it rains. Even with rain, we could see some parts of the track dry and some, extremely wet. It could be an unpredictable but extremely exiting race to watch. With Bridgestone bringing super soft and hard tyre to the Hockenheimring, tyre management will be a concern for drivers like Lewis. If it doesn’t rain, super soft tyres could wear out within a couple of laps. Even qualifying on the super soft has been concern for most teams. I guess most of the top teams will be starting on the hard tyres with maximum of 2 pit stops. Tyres are going to spice up the action on Sunday is my guess!
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