Thunderstorms heading to Hockenheimring

2014 German Grand Prix weather

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Formula One weather-watchers are in for a treat this weekend as the German Grand Prix is expected to see a dramatic change in conditions part way through the weekend.

The Deutscher Wetterdienst – Germany’s meteorological service – has issued warnings for high temperatures in the Baden-Wurttemberg region, home of the Hockenheimring. Temperatures could soar as high as 34C over the course of the next two days.

But a region of lower pressure is making its way eastwards and is expected to begin driving the hotter conditions away from south-west Germany by Saturday evening. It will bring with it cooler temperatures and a high chance of thunderstorms which should last into race day morning.

This introduces a degree of unpredictability into exactly what conditions will be like at 2pm local time on Sunday when 67 laps of the Hockenheimring begin. But at the moment the chances are good that we may have our first wet race of the season.

For more updates on the track conditions during each session keep an eye on F1 Fanatic Live and the F1 Fanatic Twitter account.

Location of Hockenheimring

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Image © Lotus/LAT

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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29 comments on “Thunderstorms heading to Hockenheimring”

  1. Yeah~~

  2. Excellent! As long as they don’t red flag it and the lead driver does not start whining on the radio to cut the race short, I am all for heavy rain:)

    1. agree as I hope it is like Malaysia 2012 where there was heavy rain

      1. That was an excellent race. I was cheering for PER on that day… if only he had not run wide or missed his braking point or whatever.

    2. As long as the rain starts after the standing start: yey!

  3. About time we get a rain affected GP!

  4. WilliamB (@william-brierty)
    17th July 2014, 11:08

    The first properly wet race since Brazil 2012 would be very welcome. I tend to prefer the rain to affect the race in F1 rather than qualifying…

    1. I prefer both but I like it when it hits about 5 to 10mins before the race start

      1. even better: 10mins after the race start

    2. Brian Beckford aca Naphtali
      19th July 2014, 23:42

      Yea list have some rain Lewis is the best driver in the rain go on boy get in there hahahaha

  5. That’s good news! Some proper action in the wet. It will be interesting to see how teams will qualify and then race (like Force India which was welcoming the softer tyres on a hot wheather)

  6. Finally, a wet race! Hopefully anyway. Couldl be interesting to see drivers coping with non-FRIC cars in the wet, I don’t know how much of a difference FRIC makes (or made) to stability and feel but it’ll be interesting to see drivers cope with different handling cars in the wet for the first time

  7. Michael Brown (@)
    17th July 2014, 12:00

    YAAAAAYYYYYY

  8. With thunderstorms in this modern Formula One, I’m wondering who will lead the most laps on Sunday: Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg or Bernd Maylander?

    1. @slr Probably Alan van der Merwe (driver of the car which does recon laps during a red flag period).

  9. Hate to say it but knowing F1 luck in the past few years, it probably won’t happen!! :(

    That said, this is one of the only races I’m missing live so it will be a shame to miss out on this if it is wet :/

    1. I have to agree with you there as there were many times last year when rain was forecast for the race for it to only miss.

    2. You forget it means that the odds are bound to be in your favour.

  10. YES!

    Let’s do it. Sick of wet qualy, let’s have a wet race!

  11. first wet race in years? dont be silly, the race will end at 3:30pm local time with the rain arriving 3:45pm.

    Is pessimism unhealthy? lol

  12. Nah, if those storms storm by (pun intended) Sunday morning, then the race could remain dry.

    Previously, I thought the storms are due on Sunday and not on Saturday evening. Surely, thunderstorms do not last for nearly 24 hours, even a series of them.

    Which is sad as I can’t wait for a wet race either.

  13. From what I’ve seen (from a forecast that hasn’t been wrong all season) there’s a chance of Thunderstorms in the morning with fairly heavy rain predicted throughout the day, with about a 60% chance of it actually raining.

    However, I’ve given up being hopeful of a wet race so am fully expecting all the hype to be for nothing as we sit through yet another bone dry afternoon.

    However, if the predicted rain does hit, we could be in for a very long afternoon as it is predicted to be very heavy, which will lead to red flags.

    1. @bradley13 – what site as I have only heard 40% chance of rain and my local broadcaster for Formula 1 and MotoGP say different things to me

      1. 80% chance with PM T-storms and also afternoon showers and thunderstorms.
        According to this http://www.weather.com/weather/wxdetail2/GMXX1608

  14. Who cares if it rains. Pirelli rain tyres seem to be crap that the fia will red flag until they go in dry tires

  15. high chance of thunderstorms which should last into race day morning.
    maybe might be who knows, we dont need it, the races have been fantastic as they are,
    i hope it do’s not rain, i want to see another great fight with Ham/Ros, ive been waiting too long for that repeat.

  16. YES!!! THERE IS A GOD!!!! THANK YOU GOD FOR BRINGING RAIN TO A RACE DAY!

  17. Well it cleary depends on Bernie and if he lets it rain !

  18. Go on Lewis get in there your the baddest in the rain hahaha

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