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German Grand Prix

Nurburgring Future Uncertain

Image by Nürburgring.de

It seems the future of the famous Nurburgring, site of the German grand prix (alternating every year with Hockenheimring), continues to roller coaster up and down.  First it appeared that all hope was lost when the European Commission failed to approve a €13M state aid package to make a July 31 payment deadline for the track’s loan.  Then, state-owner Rhine-Palatinate, which asked the track’s operating company to declare bankruptcy shortly the missed deadline, came to the rescue in the 11th hour with a new loan that would cover the bulk of the original €330M loan.  The €254M pledged by the state would service the loan and keep the interest from running out of control, which costs the state €47,000 each day the original loan isn’t paid down.

Whose Line Line Is It Anyway?

Sebastian Vettel contemplates his moves during the German GP press conference (Photo by Vladimir Rys/Getty Images)

To suggest that he was not exactly thrilled and that Sebastian Vettel was all but robbed of a second place in the German GP rocked the boat of Iain Robertson enough for him to demand another closer inspection of the final result.

Race Preview: German Grand Prix

// This weekend we head to the famed Hockenheimring in the rural countryside of Germany. Here's a 3D Track Experience video from Pirelli.

Can you believe it's already the 10th race of the 2012 season? We're halfway through it, yet the season has been so action-packed that it's almost too good to be true. Continuing on with the European leg of the Grand Prix, this weekend the race will be at Hockenheim, Germany.

Mid-season is also the time when we have what I'd like to call the "Musical chair" part of the season. Top drivers talk to other top teams to explore options for next season and beyond. Hamilton is thought to have had talks with Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes. Massa may depart Ferrari, Vettel was speculated to perhaps give Ferrari a try, and Webber was also rumored last week to want to leave Red Bull, meanwhile closing the deal with Red Bull this week. Maybe all the drivers should have 1-year contract only, that'll keep the "Musical chair" rumor mill going for the summer.

The front runner to win at Hockenheim this weekend, based purely on historical statistics, is Schumacher who has won four times at this track. Pretty impressive achievement! However, not to be outdone, Alonso and Hamilton have both won twice at this track before. I'm still holding out some hope for Iceman to win a Grand Prix and actually smile, we will have to wait and see how the race will go down this weekend. Can’t wait! Catch you again next week after the German Grand Prix!

DIVIDENDS OF DOWNFORCE: GERMAN GP

NUERBURG, GERMANY - JULY 23: Mark Webber of Australia and Red Bull Racing drives during practice to the German Formula One Grand Prix at the Nurburgring on July 23, 2011 in Nuerburg, Germany. (Photo by Vladimir Rys Photography via Getty Images)

// Dividends of Downforce

Located in the Rhine Valley, near Karlsruhe, the 2012 German Grand Prix at Hockenheim is this season’s alternative to the equally infamous ‘Green Hell’ of the Nürburgring but, prior to its 2002 modernisation programme, it claimed the lives of two of Formula One’s most famous sons.