31/07/2016
NEWS STORY
Remember when you were a kid?
Remember how the summer holidays seemed to last forever, and then, about two weeks before they were due to end the signs began appearing in shop windows.
You know the signs we mean, they read; "Back to School".
And suddenly in one fell swoop you were no longer thinking of fun things rather those seemingly endless days in the classroom... history, geography... chemistry.
Indeed, all that was left was to count off the days to Christmas.
Hard to believe but a couple of weeks back I saw my first "Back to School" sign, and this was before the holidays had even begun.
Today's race has a summer holiday feel about it, mainly because after today's event the sport takes an enforced break which in total last three weeks, but teams are only prevented from working for two of those weeks.
This being the German Grand Prix, at Mercedes it has a 'parents day' feel about it, for all the Stuttgart company's top brass will be in attendance, along with friends, family and other important guests.
Consequently, the German manufacturer will be hoping its two star drivers are on their best behaviour today and that - talking of schools - they will not descent to a St Trinian's style punch-up, after all, Hockenheim has had its fair share of punch-ups.
Toto Wolff insists that Lewis and Nico have not been warned to watch their behaviour and are to treat this like any other race.
Which reminds us of an email we received from our friend Jeremy earlier this week. "I'm off to Germany tomorrow," he wrote. "The other two races that I have been to are Spain and Austria, so let's see if the Mercedes boys hit each other and make it three in a row!"
Indeed.
Sadly, with his school fees allegedly in arrears we may not be seeing Rio Haryanto after the break, and enforced shutdown or no enforced shutdown work will be going on behind the scenes as teams and driver managers try to secure the Manor seat for their man.
And what of Daniil Kvyat, might we see Dr Marko dump the hapless Russian over the break, after all the Austrian has history.
For a sport that boasts of its passion and respect for its history - indeed, bonus payment are based on it - at times it can be somewhat callous.
Hard to believe the clearly broken man we saw yesterday afternoon is the same driver who stood up to Sebastian Vettel in China, saying: "That's racing" is response to the Ferrari driver's claim that he hit him.
Barring the Mercedes duo doing something very, very silly, this should be a walk in the park - OK, Ring - for the German team, and with Nico having looked strong all weekend he has to go into this afternoon as favourite.
Oh but how Lewis would love to beat him on his home circuit, to soak up the adulation, and Champagne, in the German's own backyard.
Whatever the team and its drivers might say about the relationship between the pair, last week's incident in Hungary - when Lewis effectively snitched on Nico to Headmaster Whiting - said it all, even Paddy Lowe describing it as "regretful".
Behind the Mercedes we have the makings of a classic afternoon, providing enthusiasm can be kept in check and that Charlie Whiting doesn't come up with any further rule changes during the race.
The Red Bulls and Ferraris are pretty evenly matched, though Ricciardo's opening stint could be affected by the fact that he did two extra laps in Q2 yesterday. Even so, we look forward to a resumption of the duels witnessed in Hungary, especially in terms of the Iceman and the young pretender.
Next up are Force India and Williams, though our money has to be on the Silverstone-based outfit, both in terms of tyre strategy and the fact that the Grove outfit has not impressed for some time.
Behind these two its becomes a little muddled as the various teams form appears to waver from session to session. Looking strong at the start of the weekend, McLaren faltered yesterday, whilst Haas is all over the place - literally, just ask Romain. Toro Rosso will probably perform better in the race than qualifying while Renault remains in that netherworld between the rear of the midfield and Manor/Sauber.
While the weather gods could play a part, it looks unlikely, therefore, if we are to get a decent race, and not a repeat of last week's bore-fest, we need to rely on the Mercedes duo and the resumption of hostilities between Kimi and Max.
Talking of Kimi, for someone many were writing off not all that long ago, the Iceman is currently enjoying an Indian Summer.
Great to see a decent attendance today, the empty stands on Friday not what this circuit, country or stars of the show, deserve.
In terms of tyres we have the medium, soft and supersoft, with Pirelli recommending maximum stints of 29 laps on the soft and 22 laps on the supersoft.
On this basis, the optimal pit-stop strategies are a three-stopper comprising three stints on supersoft and one stint on soft, a two-stopper comprising two stints on supersoft and one on soft (maximizing the stints on supersoft) , two-stopper of two stints on supersoft and one on soft (maximizing the single stint on soft) or one stint on supersoft and two on soft.
There are two DRS zones. The detection point of the first is 110m before Turn One, with the activation point 60m after Turn One. The second detection point is at the exit of Turn Four, with the activation point 260m after Turn Four.
Talking of Kimi - and we usually are - following this week's meeting of the Strategy Group the radio rules have been relaxed so we should hear a lot more chatter today. And no doubt more expletives.
As for the rules on track limits they appear to be making it up as they go along, though T1 is the one to watch. According to the most recent directive from Charlie Whiting: "The usable track limit at turn 1 should be the outer edge of the kerb, i.e. the edge furthest from the track. The performance of any driver going beyond this point, with any part of the car, will be examined in order to establish whether or not an advantage was gained by exceeding this limit."
The pitlane opens and one by one the drivers head out.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Hockenheim, here.
Air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 39 degrees. Though it is bright, there is a 20% risk of rain.
As the national anthem rings out, the fans in the stands hold up tissue paper turning said stands into a sea of red, black and yellow. Stirring stuff.
Among those on the grid observing the anthem is Mick Schumacher. How long, we wonder, before he is standing on the grid for real.
All are starting on supersofts bar Gutierrez who starts on the softs.
The field heads off on the warm-up lap.
The grid forms... Ericsson the very last driver to take up his position, the Swede seemingly keeping the others waiting for ages.
They're away. It's a poor start from Rosberg who has wheelspin, and as Hamilton gets ahead Verstappen attempts to get between the two. As Rosberg continues to struggle the Red Bulls jostle for position behind Hamilton and Vettel almost gets alongside his countryman. Elsewhere, a massive lock-up for Bottas.
Further round the first lap, as the Ferraris now fight one another right on his tail, Rosberg gets a wheel on the grass, a disastrous opening to his home race for the German. Vettel attempts to go around the outside in the hairpin but Rosberg somehow holds him off.
Hamilton heads Verstappen at the end of lap 1, with Ricciardo third ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Bottas and Hulkenberg. Button is up to ninth, while Perez has lost as number of places after a poor start.
As Massa complains that he's been hit, and needs to pit, Rosberg is side-by-side with Ricciardo in turns 6 and 7 as they battle for third, neither driver giving an inch.
Palmer pits at the end of lap 2 switching to the soft rubber, the Briton seemingly the one who clouted Massa at the start.
Having lost ground to Ricciardo, Rosberg now has the Ferraris on his tail. Out front Hamilton has a 2s lead over Verstappen.
Massa and Alonso battle for tenth, the Brazilian unable to hold off his former teammate who pulls a superb dummy in T6. Elsewhere, the two Manors trip up over one another, Haryanto losing a front wing endplate in the process.
Having lost out to Alonso, Massa is now under pressure from Sainz.
Kvyat pits after complaining that he was struggling for grip. Nasr also stops.
Sainz almost trips up over a very slow Massa at the hairpin.
After just 8 laps, Verstappen complains that he is struggling with his rears.
Perez pits at the end of lap 8, as Sainz gets by Massa to take eleventh. As the Brazilian warns his team about his car's handling following the clash with Palmer, the Williams driver is passed by Magnussen also. Cheeky.
As Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (20.518), Massa and Sainz pit however, there's an issue for the Spaniard. They rejoin in 18th (Massa) and 19th.
Verstappen pits at the end of lap 11 as does Rosberg, who loses time over a problem with the right-rear. Magnussen also stops. They rejoin in 8th (Verstappen) and 10th (Rosberg).
Verstappen makes short work of Button to take seventh.
Ricciardo, Bottas and Hulkenberg all stop next time around as Hamilton posts another fastest lap (20.465).
"I'm struggling with the rears," complains Raikkonen as teammate Vettel stops, as does Button.
15.8s ahead of Raikkonen, Hamilton is told that it's "Hammer-time". The Briton subsequently pits, as does Raikkonen who has a very poor stop.
The Briton rejoins still leading, Verstappen 6s behind and 1.2s ahead of Raikkonen. Rosberg is now fourth - having been placed on "Plan B" - ahead of Vettel, Raikkonen, Grosjean and Bottas though the Frenchman has yet to stop.
After 16 laps, the Haas duo are the only drivers yet to stop.
Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (20.197) as he tries to close the 1.6s gap to Ricciardo.
Grosjean pits at the end of lap 17, as Raikkonen asks whether his team adjusted his front wing during his stop. They did, though he can't feel any difference.
Magnussen makes a great move on Massa to take 13th as Alonso makes a great move on Perez for 11th. Congratulated by his team, the Spaniard replies: Don't worry, I will lose another position at the next stop... and regain it later."
Under intense pressure from Sainz and Grosjean, Massa is locking-up in various corners.
In one fell swoop a clearly struggling Massa is passed by both Sainz and Grosjean.
"This is definitely not the race tyre" says Verstappen, as Alonso and Gutierrez battle for 10th. Again, another bold move sees the two-time champion win-out, if only temporarily.
Clearly struggling, remember he has yet to stop, Gutierrez is now passed by Perez. Not sure why they are leaving him out this long.
Out front, Hamilton has a 6.8s lead over Verstappen who is 9.1s clear of Ricciardo who has Rosberg all over his exhaust pipes. Vettel is a further 4s behind.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Hockenheim, here.
Magnussen and Grosjean pass Gutierrez who has now slipped to 14th.
Ricciardo is told to look after his tyres. The Australian is on softs while teammate Verstappen (ahead) and Rosberg (behind) are both on supers.
At the end of lap 25, Palmer pits for a new nose and front wing following that first lap clash. Why did they wait so long, when they pitted him at the start of the race.
Next time around Massa and Wehrlein pit, the team checking the Brazilian's car for possible damage.
Rosberg pits at the end of lap 27, the German rejoining in sixth. Perez also stops.
At the end of lap 28 Verstappen pits as Rosberg goes quickest in S2 and S3. The Dutch youngster rejoining in 5th just ahead of Rosberg who is told to "push hard now". He does, and the German passes the Red Bull in T6, Verstappen running wide in the process.
Great stuff from Rosberg, who may have silenced a few critics with that move. However, Verstappen is not one of them: "He pushed me off the track," he complains.
Sure enough, the stewards are to investigate the incident.
At the end of lap 31 Vettel pits, as does Button, the Ferrari driver rejoining in 7th.
Hamilton is told that "it's all kicking off behind" and that he must watch his pace.
As the stewards investigate Grosjean and Magnussen, Raikkonen and Massa get up close and very personal.
Rosberg is given a 5s time penalty for forcing Verstappen off track. Hmm.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 33, the Red Bull driver rejoining in fourth on the supers. Bottas also pits.
Next time around Hamilton stops, the Briton also switching to the red-banded tyres.
A new fastest lap for Rosberg (20.190), the German now running second but with that time penalty.
Told about the penalty, Rosberg complains that he was on full lock and that Verstappen still came at him.
"Tell them I was at full steering lock," he says. "He moved under braking, that was the big problem. That's completely not allowed."
As the stewards announce there will be no further action regarding Magnussen and Grosjean, Hamilton is told that he too is now on "Plan B".
As Raikkonen goes fastest (19.572), Rosberg is told that he's doing a good job, the German clearly in 'red mist' mode.
Massa is told to pit where the car will be retired, the Brazilian thus becomes the first retirement of the afternoon. He joins the team in inspecting the rear of his car for damage.
3s down on Rosberg - therefore effectively 2s ahead - Verstappen and Ricciardo are shaping up for a battle of the Bulls.
Making full use of his DRS, Ricciardo sweeps by his teammate to take third. That said, the Dutch teenage didn't put up any resistance.
Rosberg is told that he needs mid-nineteens. "It's really important, Ricciardo is pushing hard" he is told. However, as the German posts a 20.3 it is Ricciardo who is posting 19.7s.
Now 9.5s down on his teammate, Rosberg has Ricciardo just 1.2s behind.
"Rosberg is struggling a bit," Ricciardo is told, "it's going to be good".
Indeed, the Australian is taking huge chunks out of the German's lead.
Vettel is told to pit but he asks for another couple of laps saying his tyres feel good.
No such issues for Grosjean and Perez who do pit, as does Rosberg who also serves his penalty. The German rejoins in sixth.
"The only way to undercut is to box now," Vettel is told. "Who are we going to undercut," asks the German. "Verstappen," is the reply.
Shortly after, Vettel is told: "OK, stay out stay out."
Indeed it is Verstappen who pits, switching to the supers. Elsewhere, Alonso runs wide in T8.
Next time around, at the end of lap 46, Ricciardo and Vettel both stop, rejoining in third (Ricciardo) and sixth (Vettel).
Hamilton pits at the end of lap 47, rejoining still comfortably in the lead (11.5s). Raikkonen also stops.
"Let's have a little push," Ricciardo is told, his side of the garage not wanting to lose out to Verstappen who is 1.8s behind.
In response, Ricciardo bangs in an 18.442s.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Hockenheim, here.
Magnussen having a great scrap with Gutierrez for 13th as Hamilton askes about Rosberg's pace even though the German is sixth, 14s behind.
Gutierrez takes a massive gamble in passing Magnussen at the hairpin, almost losing his front wing in the process.
Sainz pits at the end of lap 52.
Hamilton ups his pace, the Briton the only driver lapping in the 1:18s.
Not wishing to 'do a Murray', both McLarens are currently in the points.
"Esteban's my favourite, I love this guy" says a sarcastic Ricciardo of back-marker Gutierrez who appears oblivious of the blue flags. "It's Ok," the Australian is told, "he does it to everyone."
Bottas is the only driver in the leading ten that hasn't stopped a third time. Might he yet have to pit?
Button, who is struggling, asks if Alonso has a similar issue, though he doesn't identify what it might be. "It could be tricky guys, you could destroy both our races," he says cryptically.
Sainz passes Magnussen for 14th as teammate Kvyat closes in also.
On lap 59 (of 67) Ricciardo is told there could be "a few light drops in Turn 1".
Kvyat passes Magnussen for 15th.
At the end of lap 60, Nasr becomes the second retiree of the afternoon, the Brazilian stopping at the entrance to the pitlane.
Hulkenberg closes in on Bottas who appears to be a sitting duck on those tyres. Indeed, the Force India sweeps by to take seventh. The McLarens are 10s behind the struggling Williams.
"A few drops of rain on the visor," reports Hamilton.
Perez closes on Alonso who is clearly struggling. As the two prepare to battle, Verstappen is about to lap the pair of them.
The teenager waves his fist and Perez moves aside.
Verstappen closes on Alonso but locks up. The Spaniard re-takes the position but then messes up himself and one fell swoop loses out to both the Red Bull and Force India.
As Button closes on Bottas, he is told the Finn's primes are 31 laps old. The Briton doesn't wait on an invitation.
Hamilton takes the flag, and thus goes in to the summer break with a 19 point lead. Ricciardo heads home teammate Verstappen, while Rosberg takes a distant fourth.
As was the case last week, it was over at the first corner.
Vettel finishes fifth, ahead of Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Button, Bottas and Perez.
Gutierrez is eleventh, ahead of Alonso, Grosjean, Sainz, Kvyat, Magnussen, Wehrlein, Ericsson, Palmer and Haryanto.
"Great work Lewis, awesome!" Hamilton is told, the Briton barely having needed to break sweat.
The German national anthem rings out again, but this time it is for the constructor, having been preceded by Hamilton's own (British) anthem.
As the Briton enjoys the moment, one has to wonder if we are witnessing history, for this is the first time the Red Bull duo have shared the podium.
Be it brain fade, a technical problem or simply that he didn't want to spoil the Mercedes party, Rosberg fluffed it, but at least we didn't get any first corner silliness.
And while the drivers take a well-earned break, wherever he heads for his own particular holiday, might we suggest Nico takes along some reading for the beach... beginning with 'The Power of Positive Thinking'.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Hockenheim, here.