Vettel to face first Nurburgring home crowd

After Jenson Button at Silverstone last month, next weekend it will be Sebastian Vettel’s turn to face his home grand prix. Actually, due to his mid-season Toro Rosso debut in 2007 and the fact that Hockenheim hosted Germany’s F1 race last year, it will be the 21-year-old German’s first ever formula one event at the Nurburgring.

“I have many beautiful memories of the Nurburgring,” the Red Bull driver said in an interview with Motorsport Aktuell. “I have driven go-karts there, as well as many races in formula BMW, formula 3 and also the Renault world series,” said Vettel. “It is a special place: you need to pack a thick jacket even in the middle of summer!”

He will arrive in the mountainous Eifel region next week as the dominant winner of the most recent British grand prix, but believes his home crowd will give him an extra boost. “I would say it is similar to football when you have a home game — you always give 100 per cent but the motivation is even higher,” said Vettel, whose most formative racing days were spent not far away at Michael Schumacher’s Kerpen kart track.