Vettel and Red Bull for a first victory at Hockenheim
Not having much success in previous Grand Prix events held on German soil, Sebastian Vettel intends to take advantage of the opportunity presented to him at Hockenheim to add his national Grand Prix to his already rich track record. The German, like Mark Webber, expects to experience another weekend marked by popular fervor.
Dominant in Valencia, victorious at Silverstone, Red Bull is definitely the team in form at the moment and, in the eyes of some, the team to beat. However, with the exception of Montreal and, logically, Austin, the Austrian team arrives at one of the few circuits on the 2012 calendar where it has never won before. But, in its defense, since its first victory at the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix, the team has only visited the German circuit once, which now alternates with the Nürburgring. In 2010, Sebastian Vettel achieved pole position but, after a poor start, had to settle for the third step of the podium behind the two Ferraris.
The Heppenheim native has never shone in Germany, whether at Hockenheim or the Nürburgring where his teammate, Mark Webber, outpaced him in 2009. Naturally, with a rejuvenated RB8 after a lukewarm start to the season, Sebastian Vettel will aim for victory in front of his home crowd: « I am looking forward to the German Grand Prix. Hopefully, there will be at least as many people supporting the German drivers as there were at Silverstone. Hockenheim is only half an hour from my hometown, so I have a lot of friends and family there, and it’s always a special crowd to race in front of. I’ve driven on this circuit in various championships, and it’s always been great. The campgrounds are fun, and it’s special to meet the fans there. I haven’t won the German Grand Prix until now, and of course, I would like to do so.
Winner in Great Britain in front of a British crowd that expressed its enthusiasm throughout the weekend, despite the weather conditions, Mark Webber is delighted to meet the equally passionate German audience: The German Grand Prix now alternates between the Nürburgring and Hockenheim, and this edition will be held at Hockenheim. We were there in 2010 and it’s always a great atmosphere. There are plenty of German drivers on the grid, and there’s always enormous support behind them. »
The Australian, who has extended with Red Bull until 2013, believes it will be important to have the best possible compromise to shine at Hockenheim: « There is a long, long straight until the hairpin, so we have a high top speed there and it’s always important to be good in the last sector because of its succession of fast corners. The temperatures will be interesting because it can sometimes be a hot race, so I’m looking forward to it. »
