German Grand Prix pits Vettel against Mercedes

Sunday’s German Grand Prix at Hockenheim could divide the nation, with local boy Sebastian Vettel pitted against domestic manufacturer Mercedes in the battle for F1 supremacy.

Vettel, who drives for Ferrari, leads the drivers’ championship by eight points after victory over Lewis Hamilton at the British Grand Prix.

Hamilton will be hoping to gain revenge this weekend and cut Vettel’s lead, or even overtake him. A good weekend for Mercedes and a bad one for Ferrari could also see the German team reclaim the lead in the constructors’ championship. They currently trail the Italian side by 20 points.

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has admitted that his team have made too many mistakes in the first half of the season, reports the BBC.

“We’ve left points on the table and had to do damage limitation more than we wanted,” he said.

“We still scored a good amount of points, both drivers have shown strong performances and we have a fast car. So there are many reasons why we’re looking forward to the second half of the 2018 season; we’re hungry, ambitious and want to kick on from here.”

Mercedes have an added incentive to impress this weekend, as the future of the German Grand Prix is unclear.

“Regardless of the expected clash between the title contenders, the weekend will still be special because the race was not on the calendar last year and its future remains uncertain,” says Reuters.

“Hockenheim’s contract expires after this year’s race and, despite the sport’s commercial rights holders Liberty Media saying how keen they are to keep historic venues, the two sides appear at odds.”

Hockenheim had shared the race with the Nurburgring, but the latter pulled out for financial reasons in 2014,and since then the race has only been held every other year. If Hockenheim loses the right to stage the race there are no obvious alternatives in Germany.

“All of which makes this year’s gathering in the Rhine valley a standout for the fans, who have been bringing with them a party atmosphere since the Michael Schumacher glory days,” says Reuters.

2018 F1 German Grand Prix

• When: Sunday 22 July
• Race start time: 2.10pm
• Where: Hockenheimring, Hockenheim
• Circuit distance: 4.574km (2.842miles)
• Circuit guide: f1.com

German GP schedule: practice, qualifying and race

When are the German GP practice sessions?

Practice one takes place on Friday at 10am (UK time) and practice two is at 2pm. Saturday’s practice three session starts at 11am.

When is qualifying?

Qualifying for the German GP starts at 2pm on Saturday.

When does the German GP start?

Sunday’s race starts at 2.10pm.

How to watch the F1 German GP

Sky Sports F1 will bring live coverage from the practice sessions, qualifying and the race at Hockenheim. Channel 4 will show highlights from qualifying and the race.

German GP on Sky Sports

Friday 20 July

• 9.45am: German GP practice one build-up
• 10am: German GP practice one live
• 1.45pm: German GP practice two build-up
• 2pm: German GP practice two live

Saturday 21 July

• 10.45am: German GP practice three build-up
• 11am: German GP practice three live
• 1pm: German GP qualifying build-up
• 2pm: German GP qualifying live
• 3.45: The F1 Show

Sunday 22 July

• 12.30pm: German GP pit lane
• 1.30pm: German GP On The Grid
• 2.10pm: F1 German Grand Prix live
• 4.30pm: German GP paddock
• 6.15pm: german GP race replay

German GP betting odds

Latest prices according to Oddschecker (as of 19 July).

To win the German GP:

• Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): 13/8
• Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari): 15/8
• Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes): 7/1
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 9/1
• Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull): 10/1
• Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari): 10/1
• Nico Hulkenberg (Renault): 1,000/1
• Charles Leclerc (Sauber): 1,500/1
• Fernando Alonso (McLaren): 1,500/1
• Esteban Ocon (Force India): 2,000/1