Don’t let the name of this Grand Prix fool you as we are nowhere near France this weekend but rather the cit of Nurenburg in Germany where the field will take on the untamed beast that is the Nurburgring.
This track is an absolute monster with crazy-quick corners and straights that have a lot more curve on them than you see on any other F1 track.
It’s been seven years since the last Grand Prix was staged at the Nurburgring with eight of the current field having lined up out in Germany back then.
So who will dominate at the track this weekend? We’ll take a look below.
Eifel Grand Prix
Sunday 11 October
Nurburgring
To Win Race Outright
Lewis Hamilton 9/20
Valterri Bottas 7/2
Max Verstappen 4/1
Sergio Perez 50/1
Daniel Ricciardo 100/1
Alexander Albon 100/1
Carlos Sainz 125/1
Previous RaceRussia managed to throw up something of a shock with Valterri Bottas taking race honours ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, who finished in third place behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Things could have been different for the ‘Brit has race officials not handed him two five-second penalties due to infringements during the practice sessions.
My value bet for last week was closish to landing with Daniel Ricciardo missing out on a podium finish by two places as he brought his Renault home in fifth behind the Racing Point of Sergio Perez. The top six was rounded out by Charles LeClerc, who salvaged a bit of pride for Ferrari.
Russia proved to be rather profitable for Renault as Esteban Ocon managed a decent points haul with his seventh-placed finish. He was followed across the line by the AlphaTauri duo of Daniel Kvyat (eighth) and Pierre Gasly (ninth), with the final place in the top ten going to Red Bull rookie, Alexander Albion.
Track
As I touched upon in the intro, the Nurburgring is a snarling beast which is capable of taking even the most experienced of drivers heads off.
Located in Nurburg, the racing complex can hold a staggering 150 000 spectators, although, we will get nowhere near as many this weekend with COVID still prevalent in Germany.
Onto the track now, and the drivers will encounter 15 turns on each lap with the lap distance for Sunday set at 5.148 kilometres. Of the 15 corners, the scariest has to be Bergwerk (Mine) which is a leads into an uphill section. Drivers tend to go all out at Bergwerk so as to be at a decent pace headed into the uphill.
The last race staged at the venue was back in 2013 and it saw Sebastian Vettel claim race honours in his old Red Bull, while Lewis Hamilton took pole in qualifying but could only manage a fifth-place finish.
Value Bet
Daniel Ricciardo Yes – @ 7/2
I know it seems like I’m flogging a dead horse here but I just cannot help but back Ricciardo to come good. The Australian has raced at this twice circuit before – albeit as a Cosmo and a Toto Rosso rookie – but that experience has to count for something.
If a couple of the big guns crash out here then I reckon Ricciardo gets himself on the podium.
To Win Race Outright
Lewis Hamilton @ 9/20
I’m going for the safe option and backing the ‘Brit here. He has the best car on track and a handy enough record at the Nurburgring having taking qualifying honours here back in 2013 and won the race in 2011.
