2007 European Grand Prix

Championship standings

Hamilton leads the Drivers’ Championship by 12 points over Alonso going into this race — a gap that means he will remain leader regardless of the result.

Previous race

Räikkönen won in Britain from pole, passing Hamilton during the pit stops. Alonso was second and Hamilton third — Hamilton’s ninth consecutive podium finish, a record for a debut season.

Between-race developments

The FIA has announced McLaren will appear before the World Motor Sport Council on 26 July to answer claims they received confidential technical information from Ferrari. Hamilton says he is confident the matter will be resolved.

Christijan Albers does not drive for Spyker this weekend following the team’s announcement that he failed to pay sponsorship money owed. He is replaced by German driver Markus Winkelhock, son of former Formula One driver Manfred Winkelhock. This is also the final race for Toro Rosso driver Scott Speed, who will be replaced by BMW Sauber test driver Sebastian Vettel from Hungary.

Murray Walker provides radio commentary for UK listeners on BBC Radio 5 Live — his first UK coverage of a Formula One event since retiring in 2001.

Milestones

This race is the first Formula One World Championship event not held under the name “German Grand Prix” since 1960. The naming rights dispute between the Hockenheimring (which controls the “German Grand Prix” title) and the Nürburgring could not be resolved, so the event retains its European Grand Prix name. The race was not included on the original 2007 calendar — it was restored to the schedule following the removal of the San Marino Grand Prix.

Story tidbits

Felipe Massa races with a black stripe on his helmet in memory of the victims of TAM Airlines Flight 3054. Rubens Barrichello also carries tribute markings, while David Coulthard and Mark Webber have small Brazilian flags on their helmets.