Mercedes-Benz at the Nürburgring - a 79-year success story
On the weekend of the German F1 GP, the two Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were not only on the Grand Prix circuit, but also on the 20 km long Nordschleife.
Three-time Mercedes Grand Prix winner Nico Rosberg drove the 1954 W196, once driven by Fangio, and Lewis Hamilton sat behind the wheel of the 1938 W154, driven 75 years ago by Richard Seaman.
Both Silver Arrows are former winning cars on the Nordschleife. Almost 80 years ago, Mercedes was already a winner in the "green hell". The Stuttgart-based company took its maiden victory in 1934 with Manfred von Brauchitsch in the W25, followed by Richard Seaman in the W154 in 1938.
The "German Grand Prix" has been organized since 1951 and has been held 25 times at the Nürburgring. A vehicle with a Mercedes engine won four times. Juan Manuel Fango won the race in 1954 in the W196, with three further victories coming from Finland's Mika Häkkinen in 1998 and Britain's Lewis Hamilton in 2008 and 2011.
Incidentally, Fangio started from pole position in 1954, as did Lewis Hamilton in 2013. Unfortunately, Lewis Hamilton was unable to convert his first grid position into another victory.
