F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Hockenheim Speed Trap: who is the fastest of them all?

There's been a lot of talk about Ferrari's sudden power surge, Sebastian Vettel confirming the Scuderia's boost in speed when he outpaced Mercedes' Valtteri Botta for pole on Saturday.

However, for all the chatter - and suspicion - about Maranello's improved muscle it was still a Mercedes-powered car that clocked in with the highest top speed during qualifying.

Sergio Perez's Force India shadowed Kimi Raikkonen by 2.2 km/h show the speed trap's readings. The top ten fastest were actually equally split between Mercedes and Ferrari, Renault's Nico Hulkenberg standing 12th with a top speed of 319.2 km/h.

Same old same old at the other end of the spectrum, with McLaren still desperately lingering among the laggards.

Daniel Ricciardo's speed was impacted by his lack of running in Q3, but team mate Max Verstappen was hardly faster, giving us an indication of the RB14's downforce levels. Through Hockenheim's Stadium section however, the bulls were on rails and mighty impressive.

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Michael Delaney

Recent Posts

‘People love it’: Wolff urges patience as F1 holds course on regs

Amid the growing noise around Formula 1’s sweeping new technical regulations, the sport’s chiefs will…

57 mins ago

‘That was on me’ – Perez owns up to Shanghai tangle with Bottas

Last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix was barely a few corners old before the black-and-white Cadillacs…

17 hours ago

Leclerc defies peers, defends F1 new era: ‘It doesn’t feel artificial’

The 2026 Formula 1 season has touched down with the subtlety of a localized earthquake,…

19 hours ago

Norris: McLaren ‘not at level we need’ but confident of turnaround

Lando Norris was denied the chance to race in Shanghai, but the reigning world champion…

20 hours ago

A picture-perfect St. Patrick's Day!

Bring out your green, for it's St. Patrick's Day, which is the perfect excuse for…

22 hours ago

Wolff's Mercedes heritage flight for past and present stars

Once a Mercedes driver, always a Mercedes driver – and apparently always welcome aboard Toto…

23 hours ago