German GP circuit guide

Round 11: 30 July

If Formula One was purely about speed then Hockenheim would be the key event because the German track is comfortably the championship's fastest circuit.

This Grand Prix motorway was originally built to test Mercedes cars, although its long straights have now been punctuated by chicanes for the sake of safety.

Circuit facts

Lap length: 4.239m (6.823km)

Race length: 45 laps

Total distance: 190.755 miles

There is also European motor racing's most famous stadium, a giant concrete bowl with the capacity of the world's biggest football grounds.

The track here snake backwards and forwards, allowing the German spectators a superb view as cars running very little downforce try to stay on line around the corners.

They watch the rest of the race on giant television screens with the machines basically travelling along the two out-and-back 200mph straights.

Form guide

Fond memories: Ferrari one-two last year

Must do better: Hakkinen's rear tyre blew in Mercedes' backyard

Look out for: The speed guns measuring who has the fastest straight-line car this year

These cut through dense woodland almost bereft of spectators, while at the opposite end of the circuit to the stadium is the giant Ostkurve.

This exhilarating fast right-hander was once a terrifying challenge although a chicane at the start means that drivers are now forced to slow down properly before taking it on.

Roll of honour

1995: Michael Schumacher, Benetton

1996: Damon Hill, Williams

1997: Gerhard Berger, Benetton

1998: Mika Hakkinen, McLaren

1999: Eddie Irvine, Ferrari

Hockenheim is also perhaps the easiest circuit to overtake on, but the high speeds mean that engine reliability is at a premium.

However it might be unwise to point this out to anyone from Mercedes after last year's disaster for the McLarens powered by the German engines.

The company which built Hockenheim watched as Mika Hakkinen took 24 seconds to change his tyres, one of which then blew spectacularly at high speed.

1999 result

1. Eddie Irvine, Ferrari

2. Mika Salo, Ferrari

3. Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Jordan

4. Ralf Schumacher, Williams

5. David Coulthard, McLaren

6. Olivier Panis, Prost

David Coulthard also crashed his car and then suffered a ten second penalty for an illegal overtaking manouvre.

And Ferrari cleaned up the German motor giant's backyard as Eddie Irvine and stand-in Mika Salo finished first and second.

Mercedes had celebrated with Hakkinen in 1998 but most German fans would rather see one of their drivers taking the victory.

It is now five years since Michael Schumacher last did so and he is long overdue a home success.