While leading last year’s race at the Hockenheimring, the German driver crashed out on lap 52 and had to watch on as title rival Lewis Hamilton took the chequered flag for Mercedes.
The 32-year-old is now eager to make amends for the disappointment of crashing out in front of his home fans.
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Vettel said: “We have got to make up for last year, especially myself and I look forward to racing in Hockenheim. The atmosphere is always phenomenal and the crowd is great. I remember a lot of German flags around the track from last year, which I really enjoyed.”
Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto is also keen for the team to perform this weekend. He said: “For us, the German Grand Prix is first and foremost Sebastian’s home race.
“Therefore we really hope to do well at Hockenheim, especially after last year’s race here, when the win escaped us at the end of a weekend where our performance was definitely up to the task.”
Huge weekend for Mercedes
Like Vettel, it’s also Mercedes’s home grand prix. The German brand is the title sponsor of the race at Hockenheim, the team is celebrating its 200th start in F1, and it is also the 125th anniversary of motor sport.
With Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas leading the way in the 2019 drivers’ standings Mercedes principal Toto Wolff is looking for the team to continue its superb run of form.
So far this season the Mercedes drivers have won nine of the ten grands prix and achieved a one-two finish on seven occasions.
Wolff said: “While there is much happening off track, our primary focus remains our on-track performance. The weather forecast predicts high temperatures, which were extremely challenging for us in Austria, so we must stay vigilant.
“Like Spielberg, Hockenheim is also a relatively short circuit, which will close the gaps between different teams. We will stay humble and work hard to achieve the best possible result.”
On the weekend festivities, Wolff added: “We will celebrate a remarkable anniversary in Hockenheim: 125 years of motor sport.
“In 1894, the world’s first car race was held from Paris to Rouen and the winning machine had at its heart an engine manufactured to the design of Gottlieb Daimler.
“It was the start of a great motorsport tradition that continues to this day and we are incredibly proud to write the next chapter in this legacy.”
New look for Mercedes
Wolff has also confirmed that Mercedes will have a special one-off livery to celebrate this weekend’s German GP. He said: “We will run a commemorative livery to pay tribute to our heritage.”
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What the drivers and teams are saying
Nico Hülkenberg, Renault’s German driver
“It’s very special racing in your home country. It’s always motivating to do well in front of your home fans as you know they are cheering for you and wanting you to have a strong result. We had a really good race in Germany last year, so we’ll be targeting the same again this season, not only for the fans, but also for the team as well.”
Daniel Ricciardo, Renault
“Hockenheim is a fun circuit and I’ve always loved racing there throughout my career. Turn one is super-fast and there are some cool corner combinations to dig into especially in sector three in the stadium. There are some good overtaking spots too especially at the hairpin after the burst of full throttle. It’s a cool track and one I’ve always seemed to go well at.”
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
“I am looking forward to Hockenheim. Over the past few weekends, we have made some progress in qualifying. Now we have to focus on the race pace because that’s where we seem to be struggling the most at the moment.”
Robert Kubica, Williams
“It’s been a long time since I have driven at Hockenheim. It is a challenging track with a mixture of low and high-speed corners. I am looking forward to driving there and to test new items on the car. We hope to gain some pace and if the car handles well like it did at Silverstone, then we will have some fun.”
George Russell, Williams
“I am looking forward to going back to Germany, it’s a circuit I enjoy driving at and I haven’t raced there for three years. I have special memories there as it was the first time I had a meeting with the team about my 2019 seat. We have some test items that are coming to the track which should hopefully give us a good indication of the direction we need to head in for the remainder of the year.”
Lance Stroll, Racing Point
“We’ve had a tough few races recently and our share of bad luck, but the mood in the team is still upbeat. There’s new stuff coming to the car this weekend so there’s going to be a lot of learning during the practice sessions. This team is very good at developing a car across a season and I’m optimistic we can make some progress this weekend.”
Sergio Perez, Racing Point
“We usually see good racing at Hockenheim. There are a few places where you can overtake - such as the hairpin - and I enjoy driving there. It’s probably one of the best circuits for overtaking and the newest parts of the lap are really wide. You sometimes see cars going three or four wide on the approach to turn six and with such a big run-off area it’s often worth taking a risk to overtake.”
Christian Horner, Red Bull team principal
“We have confidence going to Hockenheim given the performance [at Silverstone]. After Monza it is one of the most power-sensitive circuits on the calendar. You are flat out on the lap for pretty much the equivalent of the entire Barcelona lap. So that is encouraging for us, and certainly for a circuit like Hockenheim that is less power sensitive.”
2019 F1 German GP race guide
Circuit name: Hockenheimring
First grand prix: 1970
Number of laps: 67
Circuit length: 4.574km
Race distance: 306.458km
Lap record: 1:13.780 by Kimi Räikkönen in 2004
Previous winners
2018 podium: 1st Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes); 2nd Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes); 3rd Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
2017: no race
2016: Hamilton (Mercedes), Ricciardo, Verstappen
2015: no race
2014: Rosberg (Mercedes), Bottas, Hamilton
2013: Vettel (Red Bull), Raikkonen, Grosjean
2012: Alonso (Ferrari), Button, Raikkonen
2011: Hamilton (McLaren), Alonso, Webber
Practice, qualifying and race times
When are the practice sessions?
There are three full practice (FP) sessions in Germany. On Friday 26 July FP1 takes place from 10am to 11.30am and FP2 is from 2pm to 3.30pm. FP3 will be at 11am to 12pm on Saturday 27 July. All times UK.
When is qualifying?
Qualifying for the F1 German GP starts at 2pm on Saturday 27 July.
What time does the race start?
The 2019 F1 German Grand Prix starts at 2.10pm on Sunday 28 July.
(Image credit: Charles Coates/Getty Images)
German GP predictions
The Stats Zone, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
“Hamilton is the bookies’ favourite to win the German GP. He also has the advantage of Hockenheim being a Mercedes circuit and the Silver Arrows’ home race. The circuit suits the characteristics of the car. Hamilton is in astonishing form this season. In Silverstone, he secured his 80th career victory and his sixth at the British GP. It continues a remarkable period of domination and he has now won seven races this season. The prediction is for the domination to continue, and a win at Hockenheim for Hamilton.”
F1-Predictor.com: Lewis Hamilton
“As expected, the favourite is again Hamilton followed by Bottas. Vettel will be willing to take the revenge in his home country but it will be too difficult to challenge for a race win. Expect Max [Verstappen] to give another stunning performance and possibly take a place on the podium.”
GamblingSites.net: Lewis Hamilton
“I like Vettel’s numbers and I am tempted to place my money on him. However, I can’t just discount what Hamilton has achieved this season and weighing both, I think it’s still what counts more. Between what Hamilton has done and what Vettel can do, I will go with the former.”
Joe Krishnan, London Evening Standard: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
“Not many people would back against Hamilton after winning five out of the last six races, especially considering he has the opportunity to surpass Michael Schumacher’s four race victories at the German GP. But it feels like Leclerc is closing the gap to the two Mercedes and this could finally be his moment. Winning on team-mate Vettel’s home soil would be a huge statement too - if the Scuderia allow him, that is.”
Rob Ladbrook, Motor Sport: will the Red Bulls be raging again?
“Despite the fact the Silver Arrows head into their home grand prix at Hockenheim this weekend - perhaps for the last time if whispers about the calendar are to be believed - it will be the blue cars that are possibly most worth watching.”
Sky Sports F1 will show live coverage of practice, qualifying and the GP from Germany. Channel 4 will show highlights of qualifying and the race.
Watch F1 on Now TV
Formula 1 fans can also watch the action live on Now TV. Viewers can subscribe to a Sky Sports Day Pass via Now TV for just £8.99, the most economical way of watching each race.
Sky Sports F1 coverage of the German GP Thursday 25 July
2pm: drivers’ press conference - Kimi Raïkkönen (Alfa Romeo), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Carlos Sainz (McLaren), Nico Hülkenberg (Renault), Alexander Albon (Toro Rosso)
5pm: Welcome To The Weekend
Friday 26 July
9.45am: practice one build-up
10am: practice one live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event until 11am)
1.45pm: practice two build-up
2pm: practice two live
4pm: German GP: The Story So Far
Saturday 27 July
10.45am: practice three build-up
11am: practice three live
1pm: qualifying build-up
2pm: qualifying live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
4.30pm: The F1 Show (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
Sunday 28 July
12.30pm: Pit Lane live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
1.30pm: On The Grid (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
2.10pm: F1 German Grand Prix live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
4pm: Paddock live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
5pm: German GP: The Notebook (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
5.30pm: German GP highlights (simulcast on Sky One)
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