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The 'what if?' career of the Nurburgring's last F1 podium finisher

OPINION: Formula 1 returns to the Nurburgring for the first time in seven years this weekend. But, while Kimi Raikkonen is set to make history, there is another driver who joined him on the 2013 German GP podium who is facing a less tangible legacy

Alex Kalinauckas Oct 8, 2020, 3:47 PM

When Formula 1 returns to the Nurburgring this weekend, it's got a lot to live up to.

In addition to the century of grand prix racing history at the venue - Green Hell and all - the last F1 race back in 2013 was a cracker. Yes, it ended with Sebastian Vettel taking his fourth win (of 13) of that season, but that barely scratches its surface.

This was a race that really should have been won by the Lotus squad and not the era's dominant team, Red Bull. The event's gloriously hot weather, combined with introduction of new rear tyre constructions after the Silverstone blowouts that year, turned the pre-race expectation that it would be a Red Bull vs Mercedes (which started on pole with Lewis Hamilton) affair on its head.

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Author Alex Kalinauckas

Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.

A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.