Mercedes, BMW aim for top result at German home GP

Jul 15, 2008, 14:12 GMT

Stuttgart - Mercedes and BMW look for maximum prestige in the form of a top result at Sunday's German Formula One home Grand Prix for the two famous car-makers.

Mercedes hope to ride the momentum from Lewis Hamilton's emphatic triumph at the British home race of their partners McLaren less than two weeks ago in Silverstone.

For BMW-Sauber, a second season victory would only confirm that they are ready to challenge Ferrari and McLaren-Mercedes for F1 supremacy.

BMW motorsport chief Mario Theissen spoke of 'a healthy rivalry' between the two top teams in an interview with Deutsche Presse- Agentur dpa, and his Mercedes counterpart Norbert Haug told dpa that they 'rate BMW highly and respect them.'

The results have been fairly balanced between the two.

'We want to be first, that's what we are in the drivers' standings ahead of Hockenheim and that's what we want to be in both rankings after (all) 18 races,' said Haug.

Ferrari lead the constructors' list with 96 points from BMW (82) and McLaren (72). In the drivers' list, Hamilton is tied for first place on 48 points with the Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa, with BMW's Robert Kubica just two points adrift on 46.

Haug said that Hamilton's Silverstone triumph after zero points in the two previous races was a massive boost and also showed that the young Briton was ready to cope with the pressure after all.

'Maybe we are now favourite for many. But that doesn't change our aims. We want to start into the second half of the season in our home race in Hockenheim like we did into the first (half): with a victory.

'Lewis has won three races in 2008, in his debut year (2007) he won four out of 17. So his winning ratio is higher right now. He was on the podium in 17 of his 26 races...This can't be the record of a man with many weak periods,' said Haug.

Haug also dismissed speculation that the second driver Heikki Kovalainen (sixth in the drivers list with 24 points) could be on his way out, rather saying that he will 'create smiling faces' among the team.

Theissen, meanwhile, was more than happy that BMW have achieved all the aims they set for themselves ahead of the season.

'We wanted to turn the duel between two teams into a three-team fight at the top, and to win our first race. We have achieved both.

'The two teams are still a little ahead of us in lap times. But we are top as far as the reliability of our cars, the pit crew and the race strategy are concerned,' Theissen told dpa.

Kubica gave BMW a first win last month in Canada in what was in fact a one-two ahead of Heidfeld. The German Heidfeld has improved in recent races as he came second in Silverstone as well.

Now Theissen hopes for the best possible result in Hockenheim on Sunday.

'That (a podium finish) is our aim. Of course we want to show our fans something at the only race in Germany. It is difficult to make prediction...We will do our best to achieve the maximum in Hockenheim as well,' Theissen said.