Vettel happy to head home

Sebastian Vettel is relying on home comfort this weekend to provide him with an edge in the German Grand Prix.

Just as title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button employed the support of the British fans to fuel their ambitions 10 days ago at Silverstone, so Vettel will do the same around Hockenheim.

The 23-year-old, whose home town of Heppenheim is just 30 minutes away, heads into his home race with the latest furore surrounding Red Bull Racing still reverberating around Formula One.

Vettel maintains, however, he is a driver far from burdened by the weight of expectancy that will be brought to bear over the next few days.

“Hockenheim is only half an hour from my home town so I get to see family and friends as they are very close,” said Vettel.

“It’s definitely something special, so I don’t feel pressure from it. It adds an extra bit of motivation and then hopefully you find this extra tenth (of a second) going around the track.

“So I am really looking forward to it, and with six Germans in Formula One now, it’s good to go to Germany.”

Vettel is still enthused by memories of the old Hockenheim circuit that underwent a considerable revamp ahead of the 2002 race.

Although the track was dramatically shortened and the famous forest section dispensed with, it has lost none of its appeal to Vettel.

“I remember seeing the cars going around the track as a kid,” added Vettel. “I went once with my father to see a free practice of Formula One in 1993 or 1994.

“It was raining like hell so it was not the most enjoyable day, but to hear the cars at the old circuit, coming down the forest, it was amazing. I got goose bumps straight away.

“I have since been there many times with my family, usually with a camper, and it was always a good experience. But I like the new circuit and have had good races there, so fingers crossed.”