New parts and home crowd boost Vettel

Fresh from his victory at Silverstone last month, Vettel is likely to face a stronger threat from Brawn at the Nurburgring - with the tighter corners playing to the strengths of his rivals' machinery.

However, with Red Bull having not eased off in its development push despite the huge upgrade for the British GP, Vettel is looking forward to the extra lift he can get from his fans.

When asked if he could get any advantage from racing on home turf, Vettel said: "Yes, I'd say it's like a soccer match when you play on your home ground. You always give 100%, but in a home race you're even more motivated, because at home you feel comfortable.

"Not far from the Nurburgring, in Kerpen, I got a lot of kart experience which is why I have many friends in this region." He added: "During the 90 minutes of the race I do not think about which country I'm in, because I am concentrated on racing. But before and after, this is special because being at home is the best place to stay."

Red Bull lifted its pace with a dramatic facelift of its car at Silverstone, and is well aware that since it could now be back in the title hunt, it is vital the team continues its push. Vettel confirmed that more upgrades could be expected this time around.

"The guys in the factory are working hard, so we have new parts at every race," he said.

Both Red Bull and Brawn believe this weekend's race will provide a key indicator for how tight the world championship battle will be from now.

The teams suspect that the events at Silverstone owed more to the circuit characteristics and underlying weather conditions rather than a change in the competitive order.

Warmer temperatures and a more normal series of medium-speed corners at the Nurburgring will provide a clearer picture of the form of the two teams heading into the second half of the season.