"We go into Hockenheim on the back of two straight wins and it is no secret that we want another. We want to turn the championship red and Hockenheim ought to be the next step. Naturally, we also need the supporters on our side as they are very important."
Having played the ideal team role at Indianapolis,
Felipe Massa once again showed himself to be an invaluable part of Ferrari’s title strategy by holding Alonso at bay while Schumacher sprinted into the distance.
Indeed, the Brazilian did not even have to spurn Alonso’s advances after finding his own speed good enough to outpace the reigning champion. Although Renault’s strategy switch caught Ferrari unawares and allowed Alonso to jump Massa, it is a mistake they will not make twice, with another good result potentially seeing him jump into third place in the championship too.
Toyota – Ralf Schumacher (#7), Jarno Trulli (#8):
After their impressive result in the United States, Toyota showed that Indianapolis was no flash in the pan after an excellent performance in France allowed them to jump up to fifth in the constructors’ standings.
Indeed, had Jarno Trulli not retired from what was likely to have been fourth place, Toyota would be just a handful of points adrift of arch-rivals
Honda and the fourth place spot they occupied last year - an outlook that was deemed nigh on impossible just a few races ago.
Nonetheless, with Toyota beginning to understand their
Bridgestone tyres better and the B-specification of their TF106 showing a constant improvement in pace, the squad challenged and, in many ways, beat
McLaren in France to the role of ‘best of the rest’ behind
Renault and
Ferrari.
It is a run of form that both Trulli and Ralf Schumacher are looking to continue at Hockenheim, two circuits that are close to the heart of both drivers.
"Ever since I first competed in German Formula 3 I have enjoyed racing at Hockenheim,” the Italian said. “Of course it used to be all about low downforce and high speed but the circuit changed completely when they changed the layout in 2002.
