Written by @OMGitsTarrynLee for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
German Grand Prix | Sunday 20 July | Hockenheimring | 14:00
At Silverstone, Vettel and Alonso had a heated duel which ended with each driver pointing fingers at the other and Vettel pulling off a well-deserved pass on Alonso. Expect much of the same this weekend as the drivers and teams head to Germany. Alonso is the most successful current driver at the German Grand Prix and Vettel is also a previous victor in his native country, but has yet to master the Hockenheimring. A win in front of his local fans will be a big tick for the champion, but another German, and current leader of the Driver’s Championship Nico Rosberg, may just spoil it for both of them as they battle to keep up with the Mercedes team (who will be aiming to continue their domination at their home race).
Previous Race
Kimi Raikkonen brought the British Grand Prix to a halt during the first lap with a dramatic crash that saw Massa ricochet off the Ferrari as he battled to avoid the spinning Finn. Repair to the barriers was deemed vital and delayed the race for over an hour, much to the annoyance of Niki Lauda, who grumbled to the TV cameras while waiting for the restart. The race began behind the safety car and without Massa and Raikkonen. Despite all the hullabaloo at the start, Hamilton managed to pull off a fairly easy win at Silverstone while Rosberg bore the brunt of the reliability issues that have plagued the Mercedes team of late, making his well-earned Pole on Saturday worthless and clocking in his first DNF of the season. Williams continue to climb up the Constructors table, trailing Ferrari by a mere three points. Bottas is mainly responsible for the points and snagged another podium, this time climbing up another step to second place. Ricciardo continued the pattern of newbies outperforming their more illustrious teammates by securing the last spot on the podium, and finishing two places ahead of Vettel. Jenson Button’s bright pink helmet, in memory of his dad John, crossed the line in fourth, just shy of the podium but still a great finish for the veteran British driver. Fernando Alonso and Kevin Magnussen finished in sixth and seventh and the rest of the Top Ten was filled by the Toro Rossos and a Force India, two teams that have both become impressive competitors this season.
The Track
The Hockenheimring is a flat, fast circuit nestled in the Rhine Valley and is home to racing mad Germans who love supporting their home drivers. It’s a short track, especially compared to its former self, which, like the Nurburgring (with which it alternates Grand Prix hosting duties) was shortened because of the prospect of death. Although many argue the circuit is a lesser version of its former glory, the track is quick and provides plenty of overtaking and is also, apparently, much safer. The circuit is smooth and flowing, from a lightning quick Turn One to the final stretch of consecutive corners, the remainder of the track being a collection of fast straights, slow curves and a hairpin tossed in for good measure. The smoothness of the track surface allows Pirelli to bring their two softest compounds for the weekend. Rain is predicted on Sunday so the Intermediate and Full Wet tyres may make an appearance. The track usually lends itself to overtaking, however expect an increase in passing as the additional DRS zone added to the usual single zone this year should give drivers an easier job of picking their way through the pack.
To Win Outright
Lewis Hamilton 11/20
Nico Rosberg 18/10
Valterri Bottas 16/1
Felipe Massa 25/1
Daniel Ricciardo 28/1
Sebastian Vettel 33/1
Fernando Alonso 50/1
Kimi Raikkonen 150/1
VALUE BETS
Sebastian Vettel (33/1 a win, 3/1 a podium)
Vettel’s car hasn’t performed as well as he’d like this season, trailing his teammate by 28 points midway through 2014. Hockenheim is near his home town, so hopefully passionate home support can drag the German out of his current slump. A home win would be the perfect way for Vettel to strengthen his currently mediocre title challenge, but it will probably be his teammate’s car that takes home the most points for Red Bull in Germany. That being said, the current World Champion is still a force to be reckoned with and a bet on a podium on home soil at 3/1 has a good chance of paying out.
Kimi Raikkonen (Top 6 Finish, 3/1)
As the current lap record holder at the Hockenheimring, one would think Raikkonen would be a contender for the checkered flag. In reality, the Finnish driver’s lacklustre season and inability to master the Ferrari indicate a less favourable result. Raikkonen finished second in the 2013 German Grand Prix, however last year’s event was held at the infamous Nurburgring rather than Hockenheim. There is decent money to be made on Raikkonen, despite the probability of him not making it onto the podium. Bet on Kimi to make it into the Top 6 at 3/1 and there’s a substantial return on a reasonably achievable result for Raikkonen.
Fernando Alonso (66/1 a win, 7/2 a podium)
Alonso is something of a master at Hockenheim, with three wins under his belt at the German track. Although he is one of the most successful drivers when it comes to the flat circuit, Ferrari’s sluggish performance may prevent Alonso from making any real impact this weekend. At 7/2, a podium is a decent money making option and while 66/1 on a win may trigger an astronomical return, it seems unlikely with the current Mercedes dominance. Put your money on a podium for the Spaniard.
POLE POSITION: Lewis Hamilton 4/10
Hamilton was victorious at his home race but is still lagging behind Rosberg in the Championship. Four points is all that stands between the teammates and a win in Germany will send Hamilton to the top of the table. Hamilton has his work cut out for him considering technical difficulties were the reason for Rosberg’s exit from the British GP. Although Hamilton has won in Germany before, I’d prefer to back him to take Pole Position on Saturday.
TO WIN: Nico Rosberg 18/10
It’s been a great week for Nico Rosberg. He got married, Germany won the FIFA World Cup and he still leads the Driver’s Championship. If he hopes to continue his recent good fortune, a win at his home race is desperately needed. The German has yet to win in his home country, but his consistent performances this season and top finishes prove that Rosberg is very capable of winning a Grand Prix. The heated rivalry between the Mercedes teammates makes the battle for first even more interesting, expect some fierce driving from the pair, but this week bet on Rosberg to come out on top.
Think we’ve got it wrong? Well leave your comments below and tell us how you think this one is going to play out.
