Nürburgring

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What is a lap of Nürburgring like?

The 5.148 km Grand Prix circuit, opened in 1984 beside the historic Nordschleife, has a technical, low-speed opening sector followed by faster corners later in the lap. After the Dunlop-Kehre hairpin the track climbs back uphill through the fast left-right Michael-Schumacher-S (Turns 8 and 9), renamed after the seven-time champion in 2007; the main overtaking chances are under braking into Turn 1 and into the NGK chicane at Turns 13 and 14. In 2002 the Castrol chicane at the end of the start-finish straight was replaced by a sharp right-hander, the Haug-Haken, and a slow, omega-shaped section, the Mercedes-Arena, was added, lengthening the lap from 4.556 km to more than 5.1 km. Formula 1 last raced here at the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix, added to a calendar redrawn because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with two DRS zones: the back straight to the chicane and the pit straight.

Lap length

5.148 km

Turns

15

Direction

clockwise

Downforce

High

Longest straight

about 810 m

Elevation change

56 m

DRS zones (to 2025)

2

Character

Balanced (about 36% of the lap is cornering)

Layout described

GP-Strecke with the Mercedes-Arena (added 2002) and the F1 chicane reshaped in 2003, 5.148 km, 15 turns; used for the 2020 Eifel Grand Prix, the most recent Formula 1 race there, and for the Formula 1 races there from 2003 to 2013

Sources for the checked facts (20)

• formula1.com/en/racing/2020/germany
• racingcircuits.info/europe/germany/nurburgring.html
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCrburgring
• fia.com/sites/default/files/2020_eifel_grand_prix_preview.pdf
• formula1.com/en/latest/article/nurburgring-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-german-circuit.2
• formula1.com/en/latest/article/hamilton-takes-record-equalling-91st-victory-at-eifel-gp-as
• coachdaveacademy.com/tutorials/nurburgring-grand-prix-circuit-track-guide/
• tdi99.co.uk/track-guides/lmp3/iracing-track-guide-nurburgring-gp/
• usa.infinitinews.com/en-US/releases/2013-german-grand-prix-preview
• crash.net/f1/feature/48967/1/takuma-satos-lap-of-the-nurburgring
• f1technical.net/news/18558
• autosport.com/general/news/the-2007-european-gp-preview-5078417/5078417/
• motorauthority.com/news/1027647_nrburgring-corner-named-after-michael-schumacher
• en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Eifel_Grand_Prix
• press.pirelli.com/the-german-grand-prix-from-a-tyre-point-of-view/
• mclaren.com/racing/formula-1/2020/eifel-grand-prix/nurburgring-track-guide/
• formula1.com/en/latest/article/ricciardo-sixth-on-grid-at-high-downforce-nurburgring-confi
• motorsportweek.com/?p=46388
• f1-fansite.com/f1-circuits/nurburgring/
• fia.com/news/2013-german-grand-prix-preview

Map, character and grey values are approximate (measured from a GPS trace). Report a correction.

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Does pole position win at Nürburgring?

The pole sitter has won 15 of 41 races here (37%). Across all circuits since 1950 the pole sitter wins 44% of races. The winner started from the front row (P1 or P2) in 29 of 41 races (71%) and from the top three in 34 (83%). Lowest grid position to win: 14th, Johnny Herbert in 1999.

Where the winner started, every race at this circuit. Pole sitter means the driver who set the fastest qualifying time (first on the grid where no qualifying data exists); a grid penalty can move the pole sitter back, and that race still counts for them. Compare every circuit.

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How are races at Nürburgring won?

Since 2010

3 races; winners made 2 stops in 1, 3 or more in 2; first stop at a median lap 16 (27% of the race)

1994 to 2009 (refuelling)

14 races; winners made 2 stops in 10, 3 or more in 4; first stop at a median lap 22 (37% of the race)

Lap times over the years

All races at Nürburgring