Formula 1

Force India F1 Well Prepared for German GP At Nurburgring

Nurburgring GP-Strecke

Edited: Jul 19, 2011, 12:55 PM

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Adrian on Germany

Adrian Sutil hopes for a strong showing at his home Grand Prix.

Adrian Sutil, Force India

Photo by: xpb.cc

The Nurburgring is a great place to go racing. It’s my home Grand Prix and the atmosphere is always very special there. Plus, there’s a lot of history associated with the place.

When I go back there it reminds me of my early racing days when I was just starting out in cars and driving in Formula BMW and Formula 3. I’ve spent a lot of time there and I know the circuit very well. Since I’ve been in Formula One, I’ve raced there twice.

The track is challenging because there is such a variety of corners: high, medium and low speed. So you really need a car that is well balanced for every kind of corner, which isn’t easy. The first sector is technical, while the second sector has a good flow to it, and the final part has the big straight.

It’s a smooth circuit with not too many bumps, but you have to be careful with the kerbs at the NGK chicane because they are really high and you can’t really use them. That means we can run a stiffer set-up with the car.

Paul on Germany

Paul Di Resta looks ahead to racing at the Nurburgring.

Paul di Resta, Force India F1 Team

Photo by: xpb.cc

Although I’ve been to the Nurburgring a few times, I’ve never raced on the full Grand Prix track. It was always the shortened version used for the DTM races. So I only know parts of the track.

During my visits there I’ve learned that the weather can be quite unpredictable. It’s usually quite cold and it rains a lot. So that could be a major factor for the weekend, just as it was in Silverstone.

I think we should be quite positive going into the race. After strong qualifying performances in Valencia and Silverstone, we’ll be working hard to try and get a race result that reflects our pace.

I know the German fans will be out in force with six German drivers to support. But they will have to work hard to match the atmosphere we had at Silverstone, which was very special.

Vijay’s vision

Chairman and Team Principal, Dr. Vijay Mallya, looks forward to the second half of the season.

Vijay Mallya Force India F1 Team Owner

Photo by: xpb.cc

The German Grand Prix marks the midpoint of the season and is a good chance to stand back and assess our performance over the first nine races. What is clear is that we have an excellent driver line-up and a car that is improving race by race, which gives us cause to be optimistic about the second half of the year. However, we know there is a big task ahead if we are to catch our closest competitors, Toro Rosso and Sauber.

Looking back on Silverstone, we have to view it as a missed opportunity. With confusion on the pit wall, we failed to convert our excellent qualifying performance into points, which is incredibly frustrating. These things happen in racing, but we have put measures in place to ensure such a situation cannot happen again.

Although Silverstone became a race of unrealised potential, we can take a lot of positives from our performance. Over the last few races we have demonstrated that the competitiveness of the car continues to improve and we are capable of qualifying consistently in the top ten. What is important now is to deliver that performance in the races where it matters most of all.

Meet The Force

We continue our introduction to the Force by meeting Performance Engineer, Robert Sattler, who joined the team back in 2005.

Sum up your job in three words... Numbers, more numbers…

Which was the first Grand Prix you attended? 1998 Brazilian Grand Prix – working as a tyre scrutineer in the Sauber garage.

Do you have any hidden talents? At the moment I’m trying to find my circus talent by learning to fly on a trapeze.

What’s the best thing about working in F1? The never-ending competition and constant search for improvement.

Do you have any superstitions or unusual habits? No superstitions, but my breakfast routine is unusual: fried eggs, cheese with lots of fruits!

What couldn't you live without? Hometown food from Brazil: acai, tapioca with coconut water.

How do you switch off from F1? I go surfing…but I don’t know if I catch the wave or the wave catches me!

If you were a superhero, who would you be and why? Hugh Marston Hefner. He has more than any superhero!

What’s your nickname? LongF@ce

Whyte & Mackay City Guide

Our team partner, Whyte & Mackay, makers of Scotch whisky, give some survival tips for a week in Cologne.

Where to stay?

Travel into the heart of Cologne and you’ll find the Pullmann Hotel and Ernst Hotel – two of the most stylish the city has to offer.

If you are looking for something a little more unusual, pay a visit to the Hotel im-wasserturm, located in what used to be Europe’s largest water tower. It’s definitely one of a kind and a must-see hotel.

Where to drink?

The Capri Lounge has an amazing selection of whiskies available for guest to enjoy along with a luxurious lounge area.

Also worth a visit is Harry’s New York bar or the Rosebud, which are definitely places to be seen!

Where to eat?

There is a great oriental restaurant called Al Salam, with good quality food at reasonable prices. If you‘re looking for something more authentic, head along to the local beer hall Frueh am Dom for traditional German food and beer.

Where to visit?

If you appreciate architecture, the Cathedral of Cologne or Koelner Dom will certainly capture your attention.

If you’re in search of a museum, the Römisch-Germanische Museum should tick the box with art, jewellery and other objects dating back to Roman times.

By: Force India

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