2009 German Grand Prix

prisonermonkeys

prisonermonkeys

Be Fearless
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Hammerhead Garage
It's the Tuesday before race day, and you know what that means: discussion time! It's been three weeks since Sebastian Vettel ran away with the British Grand Prix, and since the threat of a rogue series has died down, all attentions are focused on the castle at Nurburg and the 5.1km circuit that borrows its name.

Round Nine of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship:

Großer Preis Santander von Deutschland
from the Nurburgring GP Circuit

circuit_nurburgring.jpg


One Lap of the Nurburgring with Kimi Raikkonen

Lap Record - 1:29.486
(Michael Schumacher, Scuderia Ferrari, 2004)

2007 Results
(2008 race held at Hockenheim)
1st - Fernando Alonso (McLaren-Mercedes)
2nd - Felipe Massa (Scuderia Ferrari)
3rd - Mark Webber (Red Bull-Renault)

2009 Standings After Eight Races:
Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) - 64pts
Rubens Barrichello (Brawn-Mercedes) - 41pts
Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault) - 39pts
Mark Webber (Red Bull-Renault) - 35.5pts
Jarno Trulli (Toyota Racing) - 21.5pts
Felipe Massa (Scuderia Ferrari) - 16pts
Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) - 15.5pts
Timo Glock (Toyota Racing) - 13pts
Fernando Alonso (Renault F1) - 11pts
Kimi Raikkonen (Scuderia Ferrari) - 10pts

It's easy to write Red Bull's British success off as being a result of the prevailing conditions, just as it is easy to dismiss Brawn's less-than-expected showing as coming about for the same reasons. But the RB5 seems to be like many of Adrain Newey's designs: incredible once the team manages to crack the secrets of its designs. Brawn are promising a comeback for the Nurburgring, with new parts that were left unused at Silverstone being put to good use this weekend on a circuit they claim suits their car.

Consider this: if Jenson Button were to win the next few races and Vettel, Webber and Barrichello were to retire from each one, the championship would be Button's by Valencia. But if Vettel was to remain a constant on the podium, Button would not have a safe claim to the title until some time around Singapore. He is twenty-five points ahead of Vettel, and needs about the same to become unstoppable, and so the 2009 championship takes a very interesting turn: rather than being a series of independent races, each one becomes a part of a much greater whole, with the results of one race influencing what has to be done in the next. The championship becomes one big race to see how many points Button and Vettel can score in time, a meta-race if you will. This could produce one of the most interesting seasons we've seen in a while ...​
 
It's better now that RedBull's cars are finally up to pace... a Brawn whitewash... while fantastic for Button... would have made for a boring season.
 
My (hopeful) prediction:
1. Webber
2. Button
3. Vettel
4. Barrichello

My realistic prediction:
Any combination of the above!

Nah, hopefully the other teams will be more up to scratch. I expect Ferrari to make a strong showing, and Williams to be up high in the points. I wouldn't be suprised if Toyota return to form as well. At the back, expect Sutil-Hamilton-Kubica fights to amuse all, with lots of overdriving from the latter two (that is not a compliment to Hamilton or Kubica).

Looking forward to free practice.
 
This a great cicuit for camera footage, with a slower precise sector 1, some typical Nurburgring style corners mid to high speed blind cresting, falling away, and chicane with a typical European final turn.

A track that should suit the Red Bull and the BrawnGP cars. The Ferrari is trying hard to get on pace, and is taking small steps each GP.

If Vettel or Webber(hopeful), can get a win over the BGP then the pressure for the Championship will start to show in the next few races following. If Button takes this win I feel the lead will be too big to bridge, even as early as this in the season.
 
I'm now watching each race eagerly anticipating the first points for Force India.....they are so so close, its almost painful to watch. I reckon Fisi will be the one to claim them, Sutil seems to have too much bad luck.

I've also found watching Glock each race is interesting, people seem to be missing his back-of-the-grid-to-the-points charges. He seems to be pretty good at making long fuel strategies work at various circuits.

Weather could be anything come race day....anyone remember 2007? ;)
 
Look out for the red bulls. The brawns don't look like the dominators anymore. I,m looking forward to seeing a red bull win, hoping for Webber to finally shine. I'm tired of that white car winning all the time. It's time for someone else. Ferrari sucks this year and might not win at all(but i still have my hopes up), so it's a Brawn-Red Bull for the rest of 2009.
 
Yeah, Red Bull and Brawn will probably dominate this one too. I say Button takes the win.
 
PJ-FFL
Look out for the red bulls. The brawns don't look like the dominators anymore. I,m looking forward to seeing a red bull win, hoping for Webber to finally shine. I'm tired of that white car winning all the time. It's time for someone else. Ferrari sucks this year and might not win at all(but i still have my hopes up), so it's a Brawn-Red Bull for the rest of 2009.
Click to expand...

Almost every team including brawn will have huge updates this race. Maybe not as huge as new tubs but huge non the less.
 
I was watching the BBC yesterday - Piquet managed to almost win this race last year - so I'm guessing this must be his facourite circuit?!

He's also managed to complete the last 2 races without falling off the road...

Anyone want to place bets for which lap he drops out this weekend?

I'm going for lap 42.

C.
 
yeti
I was watching the BBC yesterday - Piquet managed to almost win this race last year - so I'm guessing this must be his facourite circuit?!

He's also managed to complete the last 2 races without falling off the road...

Anyone want to place bets for which lap he drops out this weekend?

I'm going for lap 42.

C.
Click to expand...

Piquet almost won at Hockenheim last year..a completely different circuit. And he did it thanks to a fortunate safety car which he pitted just in time for.
He's doing better but nothing spectacular, unfortunately for him he's doing better when the Force India's have improved, thus making it look like he hasn't improved at all!
 
Ah apologies - it said German and it was highlights - so I didn't catch that it was a different circuit!!

C.
 
I'm hoping for some meaningful progress from Renault. Lacking that, I'd settle for some spirited racing on this gem of a track. Vettel takes the win, I think.
 
Practice is green.


Edit: The Beeb say that it is 11C ambient, 15C Track. Looks favourable to the Red Bulls.
2nd edit: Drizzling as well.

So, who is sitting in for free practice? I will most likely have to leave before the end, but will try to keep updating this thread for those who don't use a text commentary site.

More from the Beeb:
0917: Giancarlo Fisichella starting to slide around a bit in his Force India and the slick tyres are no longer cutting the mustard out there.
Click to expand...
Looks like a lairy practice may be ahead of us.

The half-hour mark passes with only 2 cars completing full laps, those cars being Fisichella and Buemi. Hamilton is out on the circuit, but it has been a sleepy start to the weekend so far.

Spoke to soon. Hamilton in, Rosberg, Trulli, Bourdais and Kovalainen out.

Some laps are coming in now, but they are slow, probing, full length installation laps. Nothing flash, although Trulli and Rosberg are now top two in the session.

Current order is Webber-Massa-Rosberg. Webber is the only man under 1:33. Vettel is 11th, Barrichello is 17th and Button is yet to post a time.

Update: Vettel up to 2nd, Button 9th, Barrichello 13th. Webber still leads.

Update: Sutil off at turn 2. Beeb suspects gearbox issues.

Update: It is hydraulics, and now Vettel has stopped at turn 2. No details on that yet.

Update: Vettel's issue was electrical. Fisichella 2nd, Button 3rd.
 
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It's still only Friday practice though. All will be revealed tomorrow.
 
Piquet out-qualifies Alonso!

Can't wait for Q3 now :D
 
Mark Webber on pole for his first in his career! Well done to Mark, truly an amazing result, I hope he has his weet-bix tomorrow though:D
 
Piquet is 2nd in Q2, Alonso is out.

And for you Brawn fans like me, Barrichello is 1st, Button 3rd.

My telecast is way behind, Q3 just started.
 
5 Mercedes powered cars in the top 7 in Germany. Wasn't expecting that two hours ago!

Good to see Webber on pole, fingers crossed for a win tomorrow.

C'mon Sutil, points!
 
The mclaren has improved significantly, and so has the force india car. Ferrari is struggling. If everything goes as planned for Mark tomorrow, he will have his first ever win.
 
Webber, fantastic effort.

Brilliant from Sutil, good work from Piquet to get to Q3, beating Alonso!

Unlucky for Barichello, poor effort from Jenson Button. Vettel, pipped by the more experienced people-to be expected, considering he hasn't driven the circuit before in an F1 car, unless I'm very much mistaken. (somebody Murray Walker me for the hell of it.
 

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