2018 German Grand Prix

Championship standings

Sebastian Vettel leads Lewis Hamilton by eight points in the Drivers’ Championship. Ferrari hold a twenty-point lead over Mercedes in the Constructors’.

Previous race

Vettel won at Silverstone — his home-race victory the fourth of the season — after passing Bottas for the lead with five laps to go. Hamilton had been sent into a spin on the opening lap after contact with Räikkönen and recovered from eighteenth to second.

Track notes

The German Grand Prix returns to the championship after a two-year absence. The Hockenheimring hosts the race for the first time since 2016.

Car upgrades

Ferrari brings a new exhaust system and rear wing. Renault introduces an updated front wing. Williams brings an upgraded aerodynamic package, with both drivers positive about the changes after practice.

Entrants

Nicholas Latifi drives for Force India and Antonio Giovinazzi drives for Sauber in the first practice session, replacing Esteban Ocon and Marcus Ericsson respectively.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the medium, soft, and ultrasoft compounds.

Practice

Ricciardo was fastest in FP1. Verstappen led FP2 with Hamilton a close second. Analysis suggested Hamilton had the stronger single-lap pace across the two dry sessions, with a mistake preventing him from posting the overall fastest time. Vettel described the car as “working well” and noted Ferrari typically made gains between practice and qualifying in previous rounds. FP3 was held in heavy rain; only nine drivers set lap times. Leclerc was fastest in his Sauber, ahead of Ericsson and Sirotkin.