German GP | Rain strikes on Hockenheim few hours before the race
Weather plays a wildcardrole in this german Sunday. The rain that so far this weekend has hit Hockenheim only during the nights, came down heavily this moring. The forecasts though are really uncertain and this may play in Vettel's favour.
A storm is passing over the centre of Europe in those hours. Few kilometres away from the German border, at Spa-Franchorcamps, the homonymous 24 hour race has been suspended due to a hurricane that struck on the belgian circuit.
This morning the Porsche Supercup round hosted in Hockenheim was red flagged as well because of a torrential rain suddendly hitting the second sector of the track. The race was then not resumed and decleared over just halfway through.
Since, the rain gave a break to the german fans and the asphalt slowly started to try up. Still weather forecasts forsee an incoming shower to anticipate a lowering of the chances of rain while the day goes on. At the moment, the probability of a wet race is set aproximately up to a 40%.
Why is Sebastian Vettel practicing for a raindance then?
Not only because a wet race would be unpredictable and may shuffle the cards on the table, but also because, starting last, he may take a huge gamble.
The parc ferme rule forbids the teams to change the cars' set-up after the qualifying session. Having Saturday been dry -despite the forecasts- many drivers are likely to have run on a dry set-up, which may cause big problems and car instability in wet conditions.
Sebastian may turn around his dramatic starting-last situation by gabling a rain set-up to have a huge advantage over the competitors in case of wet track. And he would pay it little more than nothing: the penality would be starting from the pitlane, which wouldn't change too much his current position. Furthermore he may also avoid potential first-corner mayhem. But the race should then be wet and that's something that seems unpredictable until the very last minutes before the start. Will Ferrari's strategists be brave enough or will they rather go for a standard plan? Only time will tell...
2019 🤝 2004 at Hockenheim 🤩@SchumacherMick paraded the Ferrari F2004 driven by his father, Michael, whilst wearing a celebratory half-and-half helmet
— Formula 1 (@F1) July 28, 2019
Michael won the 2004 drivers' championship in this car, after 13 Grand Prix wins#GermanGP @ScuderiaFerrari pic.twitter.com/SPV0ZTFrw3
