NOTEBOOK – German Qualifying

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Jack
30-07-2016

Nico Rosberg took pole for his home Grand Prix after beating Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in qualifying at Hockenheim.

Pole Lap – N. Rosberg

Coming out of the SudKeure to go to the outside along the kerb before going across pole to start the lap were he takes the NordKerve to the outside to run down the straight to two. Goes in tight at two which sets him up nicely for three and four. Then for the long straight curve at the Parabolika good through.

Heading to the Hairpin going to the outside on exit before running to seven without breaking. Good through Mercedes heading to the kinks at nine and ten which a gain a good line there. Enters the stadium with a good line through Mobil 1 going great through Sachs before brief oversteer going to thirteen and fourteen.

Setting him up for good turn fifteen before going back through SudKurve and back to outside and across the line on a 01:14.363 to take pole.

Red Bull – Ferrari

Once again Red Bull have out qualified Ferrari who appear to be struggling and its means they are unlikely to meet there target this year of taking the title. Ricciardo put in a good performance to be ahead of Sebastian Vettel in fourth which will set us up for a good race.

Team Principal Christian Horner said “For the third qualifying in succession that’s a second row lockout for the team. A strong performance by both the drivers and we are actually closer to Mercedes than we thought, but they were ultimately out of reach. It puts us in a very good position for tomorrow’s race.”

Sebastian Vettel said “I am not happy with 6th position, it was a difficult session. In the moment I tried to do the best, we didn’t get everything together.”

“Somehow we lost a bit and now we need to understand what happened this afternoon. The balance didn’t come together in qualifying, it was better this morning and yesterday.”

So you see the difference there between Ferrari and Red Bull. Ferrari need to get their act together if they want to stay in the chase of the title which they could and I feel they will lose to Red Bull tomorrow.

McLaren

This was a disappointing session for the team Hockenhiem will be a challenge for the team because of the high speed, fast flowing track where you need good downforce.

But there was other issues too as Fernando Alonso ran wide over a kerb shedding some small parts of his front wing plus felt Vettel was holding him up.

Alonso said “This afternoon, I didn’t put a lap together as I had some traffic, which is why I didn’t finish a little bit higher up the order. Additionally, Hockenheim’s long back straight and big acceleration zones don’t really suit our car.”

Williams v Force India

This season we have seen the battle between the two teams be close which for Force India is great on there budget to be fighting with Williams. Both teams are powered by Mercedes but like Red Bull and Ferrari one week one team is better and the next it’s the other.

Kyvat falling

Daniil Kyvat has failed to make a major grabbing performance since returning to Toro Rosso. He will be feeling pressure and you need to ask has he lost the psychological edge to be in F1. If he wants to be in the sport he needs to begin giving the results.

Few in the paddock now believe Pierre Gasly isn’t being lined up to replace Kvyat for 2017.

Race preview

Based on todays performance I expect Mercedes to lead this race but may need to fight Red Bull for the win. Hamilton knows he needs to get ahead of Rosberg if he is to build the lead going into the summer break. Rosberg will be fighting for the win to retake the lead. But they need a clean race and it to be close.

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