Rosberg aiming to regain Championship lead from Hamilton at home German GP
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | July 27, 2016
German Grand Prix
- Formula 1
- Sunday, July 31st
- Race starts: 13:00 BST
- Hockenheimring, Hockenheim
- Live on Sky Sports F1
Rosberg hoping to halt Hamilton charge
The German Grand Prix returns to the Formula 1 calendar after being cancelled last year, and Nico Rosberg will be desperate to retain the title on home soil after his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton overtook him in the Drivers’ standings last time out.
World champion Hamilton went in front of Rosberg on the first corner at the Hungarian GP, and managed to hold him off until the end, to now go six points ahead. The Brit can be backed heavily odds-on at 1/5 with Coral to claim this season’s Drivers’ Championship.
He is also 8/11 to win this race for a third time, and for the second time at Hockenheimring, to join the likes of Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet, Jackie Stewart and Fernando Alonso as treble champions here.
Rosberg, though, is a more tempting 2/1 shout to claim his first victory since Baku on June 19th.
Ever-improving Alonso loves Hockenheimring
Speaking of the aforementioned Alonso, this is clearly a track the Spaniard has enjoyed over the years, as all three of his German GP wins have been at the Hockenheimring.
He’s also won two of the past three editions of the race here, while came seventh last time out. The 34-year-old also managed to finish in that position at the most recent Hungarian GP, so is 7/2 to go at least one place further, as McLaren continue to show signs of improvement.
Alonso’s teammate Jenson Button will be determined to put in a good performance after being the only driver to retire from the last race due to car issues. The Briton is also aiming to earn himself a new deal for next season, so is 11/2 to finish in the top six too or 5/4 just to gain a point.
Vettel require much-needed points to overtake rivals
Besides Rosberg, Hamilton and Alonso, Sebastian Vettel is the only other current driver to have won at the German Grand Prix. However, the four-time world champion has not enjoyed the best of seasons so far, as he sits fifth in the individual standings behind both Mercedes drivers, Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen.
Vettel, who was born under an hour away from the Hockenheimring in Heppenheim, is 10/1 to win for the first time in 2016, and evens to be on the podium at his home Grand Prix.
The Red Bulls have enjoyed more success this season, with Max Verstappen being a race winner in Spain, while one of the Dutchman and Ricciardo have been on the podium in each of the last three races. They are both tasty 6/4 chances apiece to do so again.
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Coral’s top tip: Back the improving Alonso to finish in the top six at 7/2.
