German Grand Prix 2013 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Sebastian Vettel claimed victory at his home Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, delivering a commanding performance to defeat the Lotus duo of Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean. Despite Hamilton starting from pole for Mercedes, Vettel's superior race pace and Red Bull's strategic excellence allowed him to control the race from the front. The German's victory in front of his home fans provided an emotional highlight and extended his championship lead significantly.

The race showcased the changing competitive dynamics following Pirelli's tire changes after the Silverstone controversy. Mercedes' qualifying pace remained strong as evidenced by Hamilton's pole position, but their race pace suffered under the new tire specifications that reduced thermal degradation. Lotus continued their consistent form with Raikkonen and Grosjean securing another double podium, demonstrating their car's gentle approach to tire management still yielded strong results.

Vettel's home victory marked a pivotal moment in the 2013 championship, as Red Bull's development and the post-Silverstone tire changes combined to make them increasingly dominant. The win moved Vettel into a commanding championship position and set the stage for what would become an unprecedented nine-race winning streak. For Alonso and Ferrari, the fastest lap was small consolation as they saw Red Bull pulling away in both championships.