2010 German Grand Prix Race day at Hockenheim

Race day at Hockenheim

Race day at Hockenheim © Sutton
Hello everyone and welcome to AUTOSPORT Live for coverage of round 11 of the 2010 FIA Formula 1 world championship.

Hockenheim has given us a cracking weekend so far with three very different weather-affected practice sessions, rounded off by a dry knockout qualifying. Sebastian Vettel will lead the pack away this afternoon at his home event for 67 laps of combat, with an extremely fired up Fernando Alonso alongside him.

Vettel has to make his performance count today, as he looks to reduce a 24-point deficit to championship leader Lewis Hamilton, who starts sixth. Alonso too needs a huge haul of points to keep in touch with the front-runners at the top of the table. Contact on the opening lap is certainly not an option for the pair as they blast round the opening lap this afternoon.

The race itself begins at 12:00 GMT, but before then we will set the scene by reviewing yesterday's qualifying session, update you on today's weather conditions and support card activity, and focus on some of the major talking points heading into the race.

Vettel is happy to be number one again

Vettel is happy to be number one again © LAT
It was Vettel who once again raised the index finger of celebration after taking pole in a pulsating qualifying hour, but there were many stories before we got to the closest battle for the top positions so far this season.

Tonio Liuzzi made a slight error exiting the final corner of the lap in the first knockout phase and paid a heavy price. Water had been retained in the astroturf from earlier rain, and the Italian ran over it and spun across the track instantly, making heavy contact with the wall.

The session was briefly halted as the marshals recovered the battered car, and Liuzzi walked away knowing he would be racing against the new teams - at least during the opening laps.

Michael Schumacher, so often the hero at this circuit, was then spectacularly kicked out of the second qualifying period by Nico Hulkenberg in the improved Williams. Schumacher was unable to find time on his final lap while in a precarious 10th spot, leaving the door open for Hulkenberg to cross the line and book himself a berth in the shootout. Kobayashi, Petrov, Sutil, de la Rosa, Alguersuari and Buemi joined the seven-time champion on the sidelines.

That left the stage clear for the fastest 10 drivers to battle over the top positions on the grid. Sensationally, Alonso came out on top of the first runs just ahead of Vettel, Webber and Hamilton, but we all knew it would come down to the final banzai effort to determine the grid.

One hot lap when the pressure is on is what Vettel does best. The German duly delivered a 1m13.791s to edge Alonso out by just 0.002 seconds and thwart Ferrari's hopes of pole. Felipe Massa claimed third, cementing the Scuderia's improvement in form, with Webber a disappointed fourth after making a mistake at Turn 1 on his final effort.

Vettel pips Alonso to German GP pole

Webber was too slow in qualifying

Webber was too slow in qualifying © Sutton
The stewards room was a busy place once again as penalties were handed down following several infringements:

• Adrian Sutil had the gearbox changed on his Force India between final practice and qualifying. A driveshaft failure saw the German coasting into the pits after just one lap in practice three, with the gearbox needing to be replaced. He qualified 14th in the knockout session but will drop five places on the grid.

• Timo Glock was handed two penalties totaling 10 grid places after gearbox woes. His Virgin team fitted a new gearbox to the car prior to qualifying. Then, knowing that Glock would start from the back anyway, the team also fitted a different seventh gear ratio from the one declared on Friday - which means he will get an additional five-place penalty.

• Virgin representatives were getting used to the walk up to the stewards' office on Saturday. Lucas di Grassi was also handed a five-place grid penalty after qualifying after a gearbox change.

• Mark Webber was also required to explain himself after falling foul of the rules in the final top 10 shootout. The Australian was found to have exceeded the maximum time allowed between the two safety car lines. He was reprimanded but keeps his fourth place on the grid.

The weather is looking much better so far this morning, but full confidence for a dry race is guarded just slightly, as there are some showers on the radar to the north-west of the circuit.

Right now it is dry but overcast and a dry race is expected, but do not rule out the possibility of a shower in the last 10 laps.

Temperatures will be similar to the values on Friday and Saturday, with a maximum of 23 degrees Celsius.

Fans pack into Hockenheim

Fans pack into Hockenheim © Sutton
Motor racing fans love to debate and discuss the action on track, and the live forum at the bottom of the screen is your chance to let everyone know your thoughts on events as they unfold at the circuit.

• Will Vettel and Alonso keep it clean on the opening lap? If they don't, Mark Webber could benefit greatly.

• Can the McLaren drivers keep the top four in sight? The Woking-based has raced strongly this year and needs points to protect its title leads.

• Do you think the Williams duo can score points again this afternoon?

Tell the world what you think.

Click the SHOW LIVE FORUM link in the red bar at the bottom of your browser window if you'd like to join the debate.

Gutierrez passes Juncadella for the GP3 win

Gutierrez passes Juncadella for the GP3 win © Sutton
The Esteban Gutierrez roadshow marched on in GP3 as the Mexican took yet another Sunday morning victory to maintain a healthy lead in the title race.

Daniel Juncadella led away from the start but his efforts to pull out a lead were halted by the deployment of the safety car following several incidents.

Gutierrez bided his time at the restart and was able to capitalise on a mistake as Juncadella ran wide onto the artificial grass entering the motodrom, allowing the ART driver through into a lead he kept to the flag.

The safety car made another appearance in the final laps of the race and a controlled finish was assured when Doru Sechelariu embarrassingly rammed into the rear of Oliver Oakes as the snake of cars passed the pits.

Gutierrez wins at Hockenheim

Perez dominated the GP2 sprint again

Perez dominated the GP2 sprint again © Sutton
Sergio Perez took his third win of the season in today’s GP2 Series sprint race at Hockenheim, while points leader Pastor Maldonado was eliminated in a late crash.

Perez methodically picked off Trident’s Adrian Zaugg and iSport’s Oliver Turvey to take the lead by lap 10, building a gap that was a comfortable 6.3s by the flag.

Polesitter Turvey was initially beaten off the line by Zaugg and Super Nova’s Marcus Ericsson, but the Briton reclaimed third from Ericsson with a robust move on the opening lap and then passed Zaugg for the lead a lap later. After Perez had swept through, Turvey ended up second with Zaugg taking the final podium place.

Romain Grosjean's drive from 19th proved entertaining, but ultimately fruitless, as he was launched out of the race by Maldonado in spectacular fashion on the penultimate lap while fighting for fifth. Sam Bird passed Dani Clos at Turn 6 with Grosjean and Maldonado looking to take advantage. The pair made contact at the exit of the corner, with Grosjean launched into the barrier as they became entangled.

Both were unhurt, but Maldonado's failure to finish as Perez triumphed makes the gap between the title rivals 21 points heading to Hungary.

Perez wins Hockenheim sprint race

Nicolas Armindo took his third Supercup win

Nicolas Armindo took his third Supercup win © Porsche
Nicolas Armindo wrapped up a lights to flag win in the latest round of the Porsche Supercup at Hockenheim. The Frenchman, deputising for Jeroen Bleekemolen at Lechner Racing while the Dutchman is on ALMS duty, started well from pole and held on for the win while the typical carnage unfolded behind him.

Nick Tandy didn't launch well from second on the grid and found himself in a squeeze with Christian Engelhart and title rival Rene Rast heading down to Turn 2. Tandy's car was damaged as the trio clashed and he dropped out of contention, while Rast fought back until a lap four puncture also put the championship leader out of the points.

With the title rivals eliminated, Jan Seyffarth soon found his way up to second, which he held from Engelhart to the flag. Stefan Rosina ran fourth throughout, while Jaap van Lagen, Norbert Siedler and Martin Ragginger all demoted Sebastiaan Bleekemolen in an entertaining mid-pack squabble.

Here's how the grid will line up this afternoon: Pos Driver Team 1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 2. Alonso Ferrari 3. Massa Ferrari 4. Webber Red Bull-Renault 5. Button McLaren-Mercedes 6. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 7. Kubica Renault 8. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 9. Rosberg Mercedes 10. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 11. Schumacher Mercedes 12. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 13. Petrov Renault 14. de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 15. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 16. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 17. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 18. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 19. Sutil Force India-Mercedes * 20. Senna HRT-Cosworth 21. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 22. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 23. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth * 24. Glock Virgin-Cosworth * * Gearbox penalty

Alonso and Hamilton couldn't wait to congratulate eachother after qualifying

Alonso and Hamilton couldn't wait to congratulate eachother after qualifying © Sutton
The front three rows of the grid are ideally set up for a fascinating battle this afternoon with the championship contenders all out to gain the advantage over one another. Action has been frantic in the support races so far and the layout of this circuit means overtaking - and contact - between the front runners is possible, particularly on the first lap.

Alonso will be keen to end his winless streak from second on the grid and will know that the first lap is the best time to overhaul Vettel's Red Bull, while Massa and Webber will not want to see their team-mates escape out front.

The McLaren pair on row three could be the men to watch. The MP4-25 has always been strong on race pace, particularly when full of fuel, and the low-downforce set-up on the cars could prove a vital advantage on the sprint down to the Turn 6 hairpin.

Robert Kubica is a strong seventh in his Renault and well-placed to keep an eye on the action up front, while Barrichello will be keen to continue his strong run of form in the Williams. Rosberg and Hulkenberg must start on the softer tyres while Schumacher and Kobayashi could have a chance to progress if they try harder tyres for the first stint.

Liuzzi has a lot of work to do after his crash

Liuzzi has a lot of work to do after his crash © Sutton
With none of the major contenders outside the top 10, the action in the second half of the field will surround the Force India duo in the early stages of the race.

Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen have been promoted to 17th and 18th positions with Sutil starting 19th. The tall German will aim to get past both cars pretty quickly, while behind him Tonio Liuzzi will be attempting the same feat from 21st on the grid.

Liuzzi will of course need to dispense with Senna, but if he keeps calm then that should not prove too difficult. Patience and staying out of trouble will be required for both Force India drivers, but equally there is a need to get the move past the new teams completed quickly or they will risk losing a lot of ground to the Toro Rosso and Renault drivers up ahead.

If chaos does occur towards the rear, then look for Yamamoto and the two Virgin drivers to pick up the pieces. It could turn out to be a blessing in disguise for di Grassi and Glock after gearbox penalties relegated them to the back row.

Tyre man Hamashima chats with President Todt

Tyre man Hamashima chats with President Todt © Sutton
The potential for this race to be a repeat of the chaotic Montreal tyre shredder, given Bridgestone's aggressive allocation of the super-soft and hard compounds, has been dented by the unseasonably cool conditions at Hockenheim.

However, warmer conditions today will make the leading teams wary of the super-soft, which must be used by the Q3 drivers and needs to last until the first - and only - pitstop around lap 15.

Even if they make the early first stop without too much degradation, it will put the leading drivers on a very long stint with the harder rubber, giving those behind the possibility to come on strongly with the alternative strategy.

The super-soft tyre does give a significant pace advantage when fresh, so look out for some drivers outside the top 10 trying a long first stint on the harder rubber, making progress up the order, before an attacking second stint on softs when their cars are lighter.

Bridgestone expecting dramatic race

The pitlane is now open for the the drivers to make their way around to the grid.

During the next 15 minutes, they have several jobs to undertake. Support races earlier this morning have changed the grip level, so each driver will want to quickly ascertain how hard he can push when it comes to the early laps of the race.

They will check basic functions such the gearbox, drinks bottle and the all-important team radio.

The pitlane closes at 11:45 GMT. Any car not on the grid by then will be required to start from the pits.

Polesitter Sebastian Vettel heads out for his lap to the grid. The crowd cheers his arrival onto the circuit.

Nico Hulkenberg leads a pair of Ferraris on reconnaissance laps around the circuit.

Lewis Hamilton pulls out of the McLaren garage and is heading around to the grid.

Michael Schumacher exits the Mercedes garage and begins his tour. The seven-time champion will be hoping to score some points today.

Many of the drivers will duck through the pits for another installation lap to get a more extensive feel of track conditions.

Mark Webber is now on his lap to the grid. Above him, the sky is cloudy but no rain is expected at least in the next 30 minutes.

Cars continue to arrive on the grid with Mark Webber now being pushed into fourth position.

Alonso's Ferrari arrives on the grid and is pushed to his front-row slot.

Michael Schumacher climbs out of the Mercedes and immediately checks underneath. Meantime, most of the drivers are now on the grid.

Kobayashi is finishing his run to the grid and may be one of the drivers to start on the harder tyres from 12th on the grid.

The track temperature is 32 Celsius, with a 21 degree ambient and 44% humidity. Skies remain overcast at Hockenheim.

The local weather radar shows continuing south-easterly movement of light showers towards Mannheim, several kilometres to the north west of Hockenheim.

It still remains uncertain that we will get through the race without the possibility of a shower.

The pitlane is now closed. Any driver not on the grid will be required to start the race from the pitlane.

The packed Hockenheim crowd rises in unison for the German national anthem, as it is played out on the public address system.

Sakon Yamamoto looks nervous as he paces around to the side of his HRT on the grid. He is given a good luck handshake from one of his engineers.

Vettel pulls on his balaclava as he focuses on an important afternoon ahead.

Turn 6 will undoubtedly be the most important piece of racetrack this afternoon.

Every support race thus far has produced incidents as drivers attempt to gain position. We expect further action in the top category today.

Mika Hakkinen chats with McLaren boss Martin Whitmarsh as the grid begins to clear.

There are five minutes to go until the formation lap begins at Hockenheim.

The track temperature is now 33 Celsius, which is enough to make the leading teams nervous about the durability of the super-soft rubber.

All 24 cars are down there on the grid and we anticipate a busy start with a full field as the circuit public address commentator whips the crowd into a frenzy with just a few minutes to go.

A row over flexible front wings looks set to overshadow the German Grand Prix with a number of teams expressing concerns to the FIA about the designs on the Red Bull Racing and Ferrari cars

Flexible front wings row set to hit Formula 1

Timo Glock asks his race engineer what the forecast is for the race. He is told that at the last check there will be no rain.

The McLaren pair from row three could be the men to watch in the opening phase, with strong straight-line speed and race pace.