German Gp 2009 - Nürburgring

[ESPImperium]

Kubica: 5
Vettel & Sutil: 6

The rest all have the full allowance to choose from. However there are 17 engines that have done over 1900Km each and 8 engines in the 1600-1800Km mark, whitch have only have just about a race weekend in them.

The last STR engines that finished Silverstone had arround 2500Km on them each.

[ringo]

Where are the passing opportunities on this track. And if it does come down to brawn and RB having equal pace, will we expect any passing from the relatively younger button or Vettel?

I know Barichello and Webber are old war boats they will take risks, but Button didn't even attempt to pull one move the whole of the British GP. So i don't know if equal pace will add to the excitement concerning button and vettel, it will be all down to who can run faster laps in clean air to beat the other guy in the pits. Kind of fun but not nail biting.

[mstar]

i think this be a redbull track as they dont seem slow in the slow corners anymore. I think this could be the turning point in the championship -if its dry and hot. Anyone know they typical weather in July here???

[ESPImperium]

Passing cars into Truns 1, 8 and 14 are the most common. Moves have been dont between 14 and 15 (Heidfeld Vs Ralf 2007), into 11 and the one that Alonso pulled on Massa in 2007, between 6 and 7. The really brave guys can try a stab down to Turn 4 as well, but you have to have real trust in your car and have supreme confedence as well.

[vasia]

Hah I'm doing it again. Why? I don't know. Maybe I just want to be thread starter guy.

Vettel seemed untouchable today in Britain, and I think the German GP will be where he takes another win for his home crowd.

Also, the Red Bull is proven reliable, unlike many predictions. Newey, being great designer, learns from his mistakes.

One race does not decide a car's reliability. Vettel has had several blown engines in the past several races. Red Bull must be worried about engine reliability and Vettel's remaining engine allocation as that could prove a decisive factor in the championship late in the season. The RB5 has certainly not proven to be reliable, especially with all the early problems in the season they had. Comparatively speaking, Brawn has been a bit more reliable and most importantly Brawn has more engines available, which could be very decisive late in the season. I will give credit where credit is due, and Red Bull managed to have good reliability in Silverstone. Silverstone is also typically a strong track for Red Bull so congrats to them for the dominating weekend.

As for the German GP, Brawn and Red Bull will certainly be strong, as could Toyota, Williams, and Ferrari. Germany though is quite a different track than Silverstone. Germany is heavy on the brakes, and Brawn has an advantage over Red Bull in braking which could prove decisive. Toyota was fast during qualifying in Silverstone, but did not make full use of their cars during the race. Poor starts and traffic also compromised their race. I expect Williams and Ferrari likely to be a bit less competitive than at Silverstone, and I expect the usual suspects of Brawn, Red Bull, and Toyota will finish near the top. Toyota did not have major updates at Silverstone, it's likely we will see something in Germany, in particular because it's a home race for Toyota.

McLaren will be a wild card for the midfield, as they will likely have a big update.

Weather will also be a factor, as teams like Brawn and Toyota will shine in very hot weather. Both the Toyota and Brawn cars seem to be kind on tires.

[WhiteBlue]

BMW will have an update scheduled, but I would not hold my breath that it will carry them into Q3.

[ESPImperium]

Car Updates:

Confirnmed: McLaren-Mercedes (Major)
Confirmed: BMW Sauber (Intermediate)
Confirmed: Force India-Mercedes (KERS for rest of season) Will be knocking on the top 10s door with this one.
Posible: Renault (Intermediate)
Posible: Brawn (Intermediate, posible new chassis for Rubens as he is still in the launch chassis)
Posible: STR-Ferrari (Major, Same as Red Bull at Silverstone, minus the DDD)
Probable: Williams-Toyota (Major)
Probable: Toyota (Smallish, probably mainly mechanical)
None: Red Bull-Renault (Major at Silverstone, just build on the relyability now)
Posible: Ferrari (Small but generally same card as red Bull, just build on the relyability)

Thats the way i see it going.

Danger-men:
McLarens with the major update, could be banging on the top 10 again.
Alonso, with new parts he could start to fly again.
Nakajimma, builds on Quali results and wants to carry them into the race. Fisichella, full of confedence and with a good car, may be in the points for Force India to get their first ever points.
Webber and Rubens, same motivation, try and beat the team-mate that is far quicker this year and get onto the top step of the podium.

[vasia]

Car Updates:

Confirnmed: McLaren-Mercedes (Major)
Confirmed: BMW Sauber (Intermediate)
Confirmed: Force India-Mercedes (KERS for rest of season) Will be knocking on the top 10s door with this one.
Posible: Renault (Intermediate)
Posible: Brawn (Intermediate, posible new chassis for Rubens as he is still in the launch chassis)
Posible: STR-Ferrari (Major, Same as Red Bull at Silverstone, minus the DDD)
Probable: Williams-Toyota (Major)
Probable: Toyota (Smallish, probably mainly mechanical)
None: Red Bull-Renault (Major at Silverstone, just build on the relyability now)
Posible: Ferrari (Small but generally same card as red Bull, just build on the relyability)

Thats the way i see it going.

Danger-men:
McLarens with the major update, could be banging on the top 10 again.
Alonso, with new parts he could start to fly again.
Nakajimma, builds on Quali results and wants to carry them into the race. Fisichella, full of confedence and with a good car, may be in the points for Force India to get their first ever points.
Webber and Rubens, same motivation, try and beat the team-mate that is far quicker this year and get onto the top step of the podium.

What makes you think that Williams is probable for a major update and Toyota only a small update? Williams had decent update for Silverstone, and Toyota had only a smallish update for Silverstone. Being a home race, I think Toyota is bringing a major update. Toyota's factory is close by the track, so new parts could arrive at the very last minute.

I agree with all the other updates for the other teams.

[Giblet]

Both Williams and Toyota have better developed cars for the new regs, like Brawn, as the DDD was integrated into the original design. Other teams are now just learning how their car works with the DDD and some (RBR) have done great with it while others (Mclaren) really need to to still figure out how it is affecting the whole car. Toyota with their larger budget will have a more planned approach, where Williams are going to be a little more slap happy. Both cars are very quick but need some tweaking, and tweaking rarely comes in huge updates.

Toyota has had a good long turnaround to make parts for this race, they shouldn't need to shuttle them in the back of a truck from across town just because it's closer.

[PlatinumZealot]

Could be a maiden win for Toyota.

[ISLAMATRON]

Are the factories closed during this 3 week break?

[WhiteBlue]

Not that I'm aware of it. Why should they?

[ced ampo]

I think this one is for button, the brawn is fast on low/medium speed corners where alot of direction changes happen, he proved it in turkey, monaco and bahrain, here brawn can kick ass.

I believe Brawn got kers too so they might use it, if they can build it in efficiently.

I see huge changes to cars coming, also to brawns, they are gonna kick ass here, even when it rains, but then it might be one for barrichello.

Thankfully for us RedBull fans the RB5 is now fast on slow and medium speed corners so Im looking for an RBR 1-2 for qually and the race. *prays for Webbo to get his 1st win*

Although I also think that Red Bull is strong, I dont suppose that a 1-2 will occur. Not even for everyone.

[ISLAMATRON]

Not that I'm aware of it. Why should they?

Thought I heard that something similar to that was European law, and the reason they had a 3 week summer break in the first place.

[jonathan189]

Where are the passing opportunities on this track. And if it does come down to brawn and RB having equal pace, will we expect any passing from the relatively younger button or Vettel?

The main passing opportunity is the Tilke-designed Turn 1, the "Haug-Hook".

I'm sure Button and Vettel will give the race everything they've got, but the question has to be whether they will be close enough in pace for any overtaking to be likely. Fingers crossed.