If one of F1’s top four drivers in the championship wins the German Grand Prix they’re likely to become the new leader in the title race.
Will Lewis Hamilton, Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen or Robert Kubica take the win? Could Heikki Kovalainen or Nick Heidfeld claim their first victories and become the 100th different Grand Prix driver to do it?
Or will we get a surprise winner from elsewhere in the field? Read my predictions and make yours below.
On paper, the Hockenheimring should be a Ferrari circuit. It’s prime Hermann Tilke territory – a smooth surface with a medium to high downforce configuration.
Ferrari has excelled in recent years by building cars that work best on tracks like this, F1’s average circuit, with a lot of medium-speed corners and maybe one decent length of straight.
McLaren had a promising test session here last week but has chosen to discard one of its potential new modifications – an extended rear engine cover, as first seen on the Red Bull RB4. (Curiously, Toyota ran a similar part for the first time at the test and drew the same conclusion).
Kovalainen seemed especially comfortable with the new developments on the car at Silverstone – as long as the weather remained dry at least. Neither he nor Hamilton have raced here in F1, although that’s not likely to cause them too many problems, especially as both have extensive experience of the track from junior formulae.
Nevertheless in dry conditions I would bet on a Ferrari one-two with perhaps only Hamilton’s McLaren likely to spoil their party.
But we’ve had some unpredictable weather recently and at the time of writing Germany looks set for more of the same (see the weather thread on the forum for more). If it rains again, put your money on Hamilton and Kubica.
My top three prediction:
1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Felipe Massa
The eagle-eyed among you will notice it was also my prediction for the last race, and it was totally wrong…
Last time no-one predicted Heidfeld in second or Barrichello in third but the following correctly place Hamilton in first: Toby, Mick, F1freak, Matt, John, Andrew, Becken, Wesley, Trig and Frank B. What are your predictions for this weekend?
cyanide
18th July 2008, 7:29
1] Felipe Massa
2] Kimi Raikkonen
3] Robert Kubica
Rethw
18th July 2008, 7:48
1) Felipe Massa
2) Kimi Raikkonen
3) Lewis Hamilton
Warren
18th July 2008, 8:18
1}Lewis Hamilton
2}Kimi Raikonnen
3}Felipe Massa
airman
18th July 2008, 8:20
1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Nick Heidfeld
3. Lewis Hamilton
diseased rat
18th July 2008, 8:34
Strange to see people putting Massa at the top. I suppose you’re hopeful for a dry race then? I think we’ll see the super focused Raikkonen this weekend so I’ll go for this line up.
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Kimi Raikkonen
3. Nick Heidfeld
Bob
18th July 2008, 8:36
Given the last two test sessions (Silverstone and Hockenheim) have been positive for McLaren, I’m going to stick my neck out:
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Felipe Massa
3. Heikki Kovalainen
Jack
18th July 2008, 8:49
1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Mark Webber
3. Robert Kubica
But only if it rains.
Dan Wells
18th July 2008, 9:14
1. Nick Heidfeld
2. Jenson Button
3. Robert Kubica
Sush
18th July 2008, 9:25
1. Heidfield
2. Kubica
3. Heikki
Kester
18th July 2008, 9:29
1. Kimi
2. Heidfeld
3. Heikki
Lewis DNF
Sebastian
18th July 2008, 10:54
1. Hamilton
2. Heidfeld
3. Räikkönen
Heikki battling with Massa for fourth.
… Massa spinning.
Derek
18th July 2008, 11:05
1. Hamilton
2. Massa
3. Kubica
Raikkonen DNF
MartyP
18th July 2008, 11:22
1) Massa
2) Hamilton
3) Kubica
Salty
18th July 2008, 11:41
1. Hamilton
2. Kubica
3. Alonso
Kimi’s Hockenheim curse to continue & Massa to fall off ;)
Mick
18th July 2008, 11:55
Got to go with Kimmi this time ’round. I think he’s going all out for the win. The first corner is pivotal though. Once he’s through there, I think he’s good with getting in the quick laps before pitting.
1) Raikkonen
2) Hamilton
3) Kubica
I think Massa will be out to prove something as well, and if it’s dry, he’ll push them hard.
Jean
18th July 2008, 11:57
1. Kimi Raikkonen
2. Lewis Hamilton
3. Felipe Massa
Dorian
18th July 2008, 12:00
1) Raikkonen
2) Hamilton
3) Alonso
Nirupam
18th July 2008, 12:01
My Prediction:
1. Kubica
2. Raikkonen
3. Alonso
It will be a wet race and Massa will spun 6 times (one more than Silverstone! ;)),Mclaren will falter again on safety car strategy costing Lewis the 3rd place finish, Kovi trying to overtake Trulli, will give Neidfield a way to move up to fifth. Webber will finally be able to beat Trulli at the last lap.Great Prediction…what say? :D
f1freak
18th July 2008, 12:09
it too difficult to say who will win if it rains….
Sassan
18th July 2008, 12:11
1.Hamilton
2.Raikkonan
3.Trulli
Who misses the old Hockenheim?
silvermask97
18th July 2008, 12:22
1.KUBICA
2.NICK HEIDFELD
3.ALONSO
Quattro
18th July 2008, 12:29
In dry conditions:
1-Massa (if he is not spinning)
2-Raikonnen
3-Heidfeld
4-Hamilton
In wet conditions:
1-Raikonnen
2-Hamilton
3-Heidefeld
4-Massa
sChUmAcHeRtHeGrEaTeStEvEr
18th July 2008, 12:32
according to the bbc forecast thers a chance of wet qualifying too, which would mix up the gird.
if its a wet race im going for
hamilton
alonso
kubica
if its dry
raikkonen
massa
hamilton
qazuhb
18th July 2008, 12:43
I would like it wet, and that HamYRton strikes again…
Bluray
18th July 2008, 12:47
Mine are:
1. Kimi
2. Lewis
3. Nick
mani
18th July 2008, 13:06
Either wet or Dry, I guess it is very unlikely for the Ferraris to make mistakes this time (as they’ve made enough already). But, I feel Raikkonen will have a clean race this time.
My bet is
Raikkonen
Hamilton
Kubica
Massa can steal second or thrid place, if he makes no mistakes and same holds good for Heikki if he finds some good luck!!!
rtur
18th July 2008, 14:30
Kubica
Raikkonen
Hamilton
roser
18th July 2008, 15:18
If it is dry
1.massa
2.hamilton
3.raikkonen
If it is wet
1.hamilton
2.raikkonen
3.alonso
Noel
18th July 2008, 15:19
I’ll have a punt at it this week.
1. Hamilton
2. Kimi
3. Kovi
4. Massa
Just a wild stab in the dark. If it’s wet, and the teams don’t make stupid strategic mistakes, I think it’ll be close between the Maclarens and the Ferraris, with Ham and Kimi pulling away from Kovi and Massa.
verasaki
18th July 2008, 15:23
1.hamilton
2.kimi
3.kovi or kubi
i think mcl is going to make sure everyone’s got it all together. i’d love to see bmw place both drivers on the podium but, i’m just not sure they can pull it off.
if it snows:
1.kimi
2.kovi
3.trulli
Becken
18th July 2008, 15:28
After see the practices I think Lewis seems to be dominant in any conditions this weekend:
DRY
1. Lewis
2. Heikky
3. Heidfeld
WET
1. Massa (6 spins [new record]
2. Kimi (4 spins)
3. Mark Webber (3 spins)
Winner in wet: Lewis
Noel
18th July 2008, 15:52
If it snows! Ahaha!
James B
18th July 2008, 15:53
Dry
1. Hamilton
2. Kovalainen
3. Raikkonen
Wet
1. Heidfeld
2. Hamilton
3. Alonso
Polak
18th July 2008, 16:02
Kubica proved to be no Senna in Silverstone but I think hes still got it so
1]Kubica
2]Kimi
3]heidfeld
Dizzy
18th July 2008, 16:44
Dry
Massa
Hamilton
Heiki
Wet
Hamilton
Kubica
Alonso
Dizzy
18th July 2008, 16:51
2 Spins for Massa if it rains
Gabe
18th July 2008, 17:41
1. Kubica
2. Kovalainen
3. Heidfeld
Shahriar
18th July 2008, 18:33
Snows!!! What woz dat!
Anyways…
1. Kimi
2. Ham
3. Massa
4. Kubica
5. Alonso
6. Heikki
7. Heifeld
(ok i will just estop here) :D
Nick
18th July 2008, 18:45
1. Raikkonen
2. Heidfeld
3. Alonso
Hamilton will short fuel for pole but get caught up in the traffic and put himself into the back of Massa.
donwatters
18th July 2008, 19:24
1. Hamilton
2. Massa
3. Kimi
4. Kubica
5. Alonso
6. Weber
7. Heidfeld
8. Vettel
Dan Brunell
18th July 2008, 20:13
If Dry:
1: Hamilton
2: Kimi
3: Heikki
If rain:
1: Hamilton
2: Heidfeld
3: Kimi
If snow:
1: Kubica
2: Alonso
3: Hamilton
If hale:
1: Kimi
2: Kubica
3: Barachello
If tornado:
1: Roseberg
2; Vettel
3: Webber
If hurricane:
1: DC
2: Barachello
3: Button
If hell freezes over:
1: Sutil
2: Piquet Jr.
3: Le Seb
Nirupam
18th July 2008, 20:23
From wearher forecast it seems we r getting another wet race…and many here are picking up Alonso as podium contender.Will renault indeed enjoy their 1st podium this year(1st after Brazil 2006 i guess)?
Wesley
18th July 2008, 22:37
Dry:
1)Raikkonen
2)Hamilton
3)Heidfeld
Wet:
1)Heidfeld
2)Hamilton
3)Kubica
Becken
18th July 2008, 22:50
Dan Brunell: LOL
But If it Tornado or Hurricane I´ll put all my money in Felipe. He has the better background (Don’t you remember his masterpiece at Silverstone?) for this kind of weather conditions…
Daniel
18th July 2008, 23:19
Nirupam: Kovalainen was 2nd in Fuji (I guess) with Renault last year…
My predictions:
Dry
1 – Massa
2 – Raikkonen
3 – Hamilton
Wet
1 – Hamilton
2 – Alonso
3 – Barrichello
Kuba
18th July 2008, 23:40
In saturday we’ll find out more, but Kubica-Heidfeld-Hamilton could fight for first three places.
F1Fan
19th July 2008, 0:53
Kimi wins from 2nd or 3rd on the grid. The F2008 is still quicker than the silvers on dry. It will be dry on Sunday.
I agree w/ Keith entirely:
1) Kimi
2) Lewis
3) Massa
Loki
19th July 2008, 3:42
1) Hamilton
2) Massa
3) Unknown – possibly Kovy, or a BMW
1 – Lewis will be strong post-home-race-Silverstone and will probably still be revelling in glory. His confidence will have had a major boost.
2 – Massa, because (and I hope) he needs to rectify Silverstone and prove he can do something about this championship. I didn’t say Kimi, that’s not to discount him, but Kimi has next-to-webber luck.
3 – I say possibly Kovy, he needs a strong result, and I hope he can get a decent result this GP. Unless something happens to him, a BMW will be there to swipe it.
My want-on prediction:
1) Kimi
2) Massa
3) Kubica
…all within 6 seconds of each other.
Loki
19th July 2008, 3:42
edit: not 6, I meant to punch 3.
GDalcin
19th July 2008, 4:10
1)kimi
2)massa
3)hamilton
kimster46
19th July 2008, 7:43
My bet Kimi . Massa , Nick
jae
19th July 2008, 8:10
Dry:
1. Hamilton
2. Massa
3. Räikkönen
Wet:
1. Hamilton
2. Alonso
3. Kovalainen
dan
19th July 2008, 9:04
Yes win for the swiss nation lewis-federer is supporting you-stevenage isnt
M Smith
19th July 2008, 9:06
Dry race:
1. Raikkonen
2. Hamilton
3. Massa
Wet race:
1. Heidfeld
2. Hamilton
3. Kubica
howdje
19th July 2008, 9:20
im on holiday in south france took tis exert out of a french rag in monaco.
.
Federer had shown incredible hunger of his own to go there and win it again and again but it was impossible to match what Nadal has after he had done it so many times. I can associate with that. I haven’t won the formula one world championship but it’s something I want to do so passionately for my new adopted country”
gerry carr
19th July 2008, 9:36
1.hamilton
2.weber
3.truli
If the above comments are true then this boy has let people down again
gerry
Sush
19th July 2008, 11:04
Dan Brunel and Becken make a valid arguement, if a tornado hits Massa’s spins may counter its effects, ergo he could dominate a hurricane hit race weekend.
Daniel
21st July 2008, 1:42
Dan Brunell: PIQUET JR. WAS SECOND!!! Hell will be a little bit colder from know on!!!!!!!!!!!!!