Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo says the unpredictable weather at this weekend’s Eifel Grand Prix could lead to a “crazy race”, as Formula 1 prepares to return to the Nurburgring.
The circuit is located within the low Eifel mountain range and is susceptible to rain showers.
Formula 1 events at the track have previously been interrupted by bursts of rain, most famously in 1999 and 2007, which played havoc with the usual pecking order.
The restructured calendar in the coronavirus-hit season means Formula 1 is remaining in western Europe into autumnal October and is thus braced for cooler and potentially wetter conditions at the Nurburgring.
Current forecasts indicate a maximum temperature of 11c across the course of the weekend with a risk of rain on all three days of track running.
“The weather report looks quite cold and wet, so it’ll be very different to our last few races where it’s been warm,” said Ricciardo.
“It’ll be interesting to see how the car behaves in these conditions.
“Overall, given the time of year it could be quite an unpredictable weekend so we could be in for a crazy race. Let’s see what happens, I’ll be ready regardless of the weather!”
Ricciardo is one of seven drivers on the grid to have competed at the Nurburgring’s most recent Formula 1 event, held in 2013, when he drove for AlphaTauri’s predecessor Toro Rosso.
“In terms of the track, the last chicane is quite fun as you approach it quite fast and jump over the kerbs, making the exit of the corner quite wild,” he said.
“In today’s Formula 1 cars it will be very quick, so it should be fun, and we go there looking to build on the positive run we’re on.”
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