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In Case You Missed It - off track in Germany

01 Aug 2016

The atmospheric Hockenheimring provided a spectacular setting for Sunday’s Formula 1 Grosser Preis von Deutschland 2016. However, there was also plenty going on behind the scenes in the build-up to the German race. Here's our social media round-up of just a few of the highlights...

Celebrating Schumacher

Nico Rosberg and a host of other past and present F1 stars came together for a pre-Grand Prix football match held in honour of Michael Schumacher - whose son Mick also joined the fray. Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso, Daniel Ricciardo, Felipe Massa, Nico Hulkenberg, Pascal Wehrlein, Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard were among the other famous names - as were the likes of 2014 FIFA World Cup winners Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose.


Australia's latest centurion

Daniel Ricciardo followed in the footsteps of countrymen Sir Jack Brabham, Alan Jones and Mark Webber by reaching 100 Grand Prix starts in Germany. The Australian celebrated in style on the podium - but before that he also managed to squeeze in time for a photo with his Red Bull crew.


Silver Arrows on point

We're not sure how competitive they'd prove set against modern F1 racers, but as Nico Rosberg found out first-hand, Mercedes' classic machines are a match for their current counterparts in the looks department.


A little taste of Cuba

Lewis Hamilton is well-known for his jet-setting lifestyle - so it's perhaps not surprising he has picked up a taste for cuisine from all over the world...


Australian football's new star?

The Formula One paddock might not a traditional hunting ground for 'Aussie rules' teams, but the AFL couldn't help but notice as Daniel Ricciardo demonstrated his skills at Hockenheim - including a sensational dummy on a photographer.


Top Gun 2

It's either a failed audition for a new movie, or Daniel Ricciardo just picked the wrong audience to try and film a straight piece to camera in front of. The Australian hardly gets a word in edgeways without some form of interruption from Jenson Button, Felipe Massa and co., as they make their way from Hungary to Hockenheim - the third of six back-to-back race weekends in 2016.


Preparation makes perfect, Take 1

The modern driver has an arsenal of warm-up techniques to hit the ground - or should that be track - running these days. In Hockenheim, Daniil Kvyat channelled his inner Rocky ahead of FP1.


Preparation makes perfect, take 2

It's not just about the on-track work though. Rai Sport put Valtteri Bottas through his paces in the kitchen - and the Finn proved more than equal to the task.


Button's biggest fans...

He wasn't at his home circuit, but Jenson Button still had plenty of partisan support at Hockenheim...


...and a touching tribute to Papa Smurf

Sorely missed but never forgotten, John Button was an incredibly colourful and popular figure in the F1 paddock. McLaren paid a fitting tribute to the man affectionately known as Papa Smurf.


Birthday boy (?)

At 35 and one of F1's elder statesmen, Fernando Alonso might have outgrown the description of birthday 'boy' somewhat - but even so the two-time world champion proved that you can never be too old for balloons, party hats and a stunning replica cake, as McLaren helped him see in his birthday in style on Friday.


Airport welcomes, Indonesia-style

Rio Haryanto had the honour of a special welcome as he and Manor touched down in Frankfurt ahead of the Grand Prix.


The fans turn out in force

Formula One racing's return to Hockenheim after a one-year hiatus proved a huge hit, with thousands of fans descending upon the German circuit. The autograph session on Saturday evening was a particular hit - as were Mercedes chiefs Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda...


Selfie heaven

If a photo tells a thousand words, then a thousand fans in a single photo shows just how strong the support was at Hockenheim - particularly for home favourite and 2014 winner Nico Rosberg.


Swiss national day

Strictly speaking, Switzerland's national holiday is celebrated on August 1 - but with a Grand Prix in such close proximity, Sauber couldn't help but start their celebrations a little earlier than normal.


The 'wurst' cook?

Thankfully Nico Hulkenberg's spell behind the grill at Hockenheim was far more of a success than our own attempt at puns. The Force India driver served up a few sizzling treats at a local Hockenheim campsite, much to the delight of a hungry crowd.


A special guest

No driver in history enjoyed more success at Hockenheim than Michael Schumacher - so the F1 family was honoured to welcome son Mick, currently competing - and winning - in Italian F4, to the paddock in Germany. 


Science-fiction technology

Did you know there are 13,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 possible steering wheel switch combinations on an F1 car? X-Men's 'Beast' might just be able to get his head around such numbers, but the man who plays him - actor Nicholas Hoult - was far happier with a front row seat for the Grand Prix instead.


Amor Brasileira

Two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi was in action as a steward at Hockenheim - but in between duties he headed down to Sauber to give his best to countryman Felipe Nasr.


The Shoey

Daniel Ricciardo patented a new F1 celebration on the podium on Sunday - but we're not sure the mixture of champagne and race boots will entirely catch on...


Rocking out

American band Linkin Park - who have sold 68 million albums worldwide over the past two decades - were special guests in Germany, and even had the honour of clambering into the Mercedes cockpit to get a feel of F1 from a driver's perspective. 


Life's a beach

In a single photo, Manor sum up the mood throughout the paddock as F1 winds down for its traditional two-week summer break. Sun and sand beckon for many, although for others the shutdown is a welcome chance to simply take a breath, put the feet up and catch up with family and friends.