F1 German Grand Prix betting preview, free tips & TV details

Sky Sports F1, 2,10pm Sunday

Mercedes are celebrating 125 years in motorsport and their 200th Grand Prix at Hockenheim this weekend and Lewis Hamilton is odds-on to mark the occasion with his eighth win of the season in the German Grand Prix.

Hamilton starts from pole position - his first at the circuit since 2008 - and no-one in the current field has ever beaten him in a race around Hockenheim.

Ferrari dominated the preliminaries but it all came apart for the Scuderia in qualifying. Sebastian Vettel suffered a turbo failure before he had completed a single timed lap. The German will start 20th and last in front of his home crowd.

Charles Leclerc was favourite for pole and effortlessly reached the top-ten shootout, only to develop a fuel flow issue at the start of the session. The man who has looked the fastest all weekend will therefore start tenth.

Top tip
Max Verstappen 3-1

Max Verstappen already holds the record for most wins by a driver without a pole position to his name, and there's a fair chance the popular Dutchman will claim his seventh victory from second on the grid.

After winning brilliantly in Austria two races ago despite slipping to eighth place at the start, Verstappen spent much of the British Grand Prix stuck behind a Ferrari.

He might have finished second in that race had Vettel not rammed him off the track moments after a daring overtake by the Red Bull driver.

But if he can make a decent start from the front row he may have the pace to mix it with the Mercedes drivers, who haven't looked on top form this weekend.

Verstappen starts on soft tyres, which is a disadvantage in the long run against the mediums the Mercedes drivers will start with, but may give him a chance to take the lead in the opening laps.

However, with rain forecast everyone may be starting on grooved tyres anyway.

Verstappen has posted some stunning drives in the rain and in his current form he could take some catching on a wet track.

Other markets
Kimi Raikkonen without the big six 9-4
Racing Point double points finish 5-1

It will be interesting to see how far the Ferraris can recover from their lowly grid spots, but the odds aren't too enticing in that regard. It's just 4-7 that both Vettel and Leclerc recover for a top-six finish.

However, Ferrari's fortunes in the race will be immaterial to backers in Sky Bet's market without the Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari drivers.

When it has been working as desired, a Ferrari engine has been a great asset at Hockenheim this weekend, and Kimi Raikkonen has put the one in the back of his Alfa Romeo to good use.

The veteran Finn starts fifth on the grid and has been in fine form recently. He's having a consistent year - his seven points finishes are the most of anyone from outside the big three teams - and he won't be fazed by the prospect of a wet race.

Racing Point have shown dramatic improvement after bringing a significantly upgraded car to Hockenheim, and Sergio Perez starts an excellent eighth.

Teammate Lance Stroll messed up a crucial qualifying lap and starts 15th, but the Canadian has a reputation for making up ground on opening laps and he has also shone in wet weather in the past.

The team are generously priced to bring both cars home in the top ten.

Recommendations
M Verstappen
2pts 3-1 general
K Raikkonen without the big six
1pt 9-4 Sky Bet
Racing Point double points finish
1pt 5-1 bet365, Hills

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