England seems to have invaded Germany with weather. Just like Silverstone two weeks earlier, the Grand Prix of Germany was taken over by rain and wet conditions for practices and qualifying only to open with a dry, green track for race day. Formula 1 was primed for a good race as teams scrambled once again for set-up and tire use strategy. They all had a good stock of Pirelli dry tires as the wet conditions earlier left the smooth tires in the stacks.
The softer compound adds grip but the harder compounds give better wear. Tire strategy timed to have traction and speed in the final laps was on tap in Germany. The earlier rain had left no rubber on the course so holding or gaining through the 67 laps had to play within that strategy also.
At the Hockenheimring, the continuing challenge of the Ferrari proved too much for the rest of the field. Fernando Alonso started on the pole and dominated the field with the red Ferrari. This is his 3rd win of the season with a car that was practically ridiculed off the grid in the pre-season debut.
Sebastian Vettel crossed in the 2nd spot but was penalized for a pass that went off the track on the white flag lap while overtaking Jenson Button. Vettel was given a 20 second penalty, the essential time equivalent of a pit pass through, which threw him down to the 5th spot for the final results. With that penalty, Button was given 2nd place and the points that went with it. Lotus-Renault driver Kimi Räikkönen filled the podium in the 3rd slot.
Alonso now has a nice points lead half way through the season. With 10 races left to go, any of the top 5, maybe 6, could either get on a roll or stay on top to win the season. In the 5th slot is Lewis Hamilton at about 60 points down. Nico Rosberg is 15 or so points back in 6th. Both would have to pick it up in a big way to win enough in this competition to get there. It’s a good bet that Alonso and Ferrari are not ready to go slack even with a 30+ point lead over Mark Webber, the next back in 2nd.
The next race for Formula 1 is in Budapest. For fans it should be a good event with the late half of the season getting under way. You may also be able to get a good deal on some slick Pirellis as Hockenheim and Silverstone were incredibly wet for practice and qualifying so teams may have a surplus of dry tires and need a few extra bucks to get some more wet tread rubber on the shelf.
Wet or dry, Formula 1 is putting on a good show for 2012. Red Bull is 2nd and 3rd in points and defending champion Sebastion Vettel, in 3rd, is within reach of a repeat. Ferrari, however, may have a few things to say about that with their ugly, yet very fast, car. It is also very possible we haven’t seem the last of the lobster claw victory salute of Fernando Alonso.