A German driver, winning in a German car, with a German engine. The 2014 German Grand Prix could not have been more patriotic.
That Sunday at Hockenheim, the Black, Red, and Gold waved jubilantly for one man, and one marque. Nico Rosberg and Mercedes.
“That weekend is still so vivid in my mind,” says Nico.
“You don’t get many races like that in a career, it was one of those days when everything goes to plan.”
So many F1 drivers would value a home Grand Prix victory over any other. Some may never get the chance to race in their homeland, while some may never get the chance to shine in front of their compatriots in the grandstands.
Going into his eighth home race in 2014, Nico’s chances of winning had never been higher.
While the first three seasons with the three-pointed star between 2010 and 2013 had shown promise – and delivered three race wins – consistency was still lacking.
In 2014 the team, with Lewis and Nico behind the wheel of W05, were unstoppable. All but one of the races prior to Hockenheim had been won by the cars designed and built in Brackley.
Lewis had claimed a home Grand Prix win at Silverstone, and Nico was primed, ready to follow suit two weeks’ later.
“Yeah, it really felt like my moment, and I was completely focused on making it count,” he says.
“From the start of 2014, we knew we had something special – the car, the engine, the whole package.
“We’d been building for years, and suddenly we weren’t just competitive – we were leading the way. I knew Hockenheim would be my best chance to win at home.”
As a nation, Germany was bouncing, just a few days removed from a heroic fourth FIFA World Cup success in Brazil.
Indeed, it had been a special few days for Nico personally, too.
“Off track, we were all still buzzing from the World Cup win, so there was this amazing national pride in the air.
“For me personally, I’d got married that week, two days later Germany won the World Cup and then Hockenheim.
“Wow, looking back it was one of the best weeks ever.”
Having watched Mario Götze score the winning goal against Argentina, Nico was determined to keep the celebrations going when F1 came to town a few days later.
A special sporting success called for a special edition race helmet.
“I had the idea as soon as Germany won the final,” he explains.
“I watched the match at home with friends and family, and we went wild when Götze scored. I wanted to carry that winning feeling into the race — kind of a tribute to the national team.
“We got the green light from the DFB [German FA], which was great.
“Originally I wanted to use the World Cup trophy on my helmet, but FIFA objected so we found a compromise with the star and that worked super well.”
On the racetrack, Nico and W05 were hooking up as smoothly as Andre Schürrle and Götze had done to secure World Cup glory a week prior.
After an FP3 that saw him over half a second clear of the field, he duly claimed a ninth career pole position, and first in Germany.
“I remember the whole team having this quiet confidence. It was one of those weekends where everything just clicked,” Nico says.
When the lights went out, Nico retained the lead and led all 67 laps before the chequered flag fell.
Grand Prix victory number seven was perhaps the sweetest yet, and put Nico in an exclusive club of German drivers to win their home race with both Michael and Ralf Schumacher, and Sebastian Vettel.
He was followed home by Valtteri (Williams) and team-mate Lewis, securing a Mercedes-Benz Power one-two-three at their home Grand Prix.
“To have a podium lockout for Mercedes-powered cars – in Germany, no less — was just perfect,” says Nico.
“It was a proud moment for me personally and the team too.
“Winning at home is something every driver dreams of and to be part of that small group of German winners at Hockenheim means a lot to me.”
Remember at the beginning we mentioned those drivers who simply never get the chance to compete at their home Grand Prix? Nico’s father – 1985 champion Keke – was one of them.
“My dad raced for Finland, so he didn’t have a home Grand Prix in that same way, but I know he was proud,” Nico adds.
A week on from Germany’s World Cup win, those in the grandstands had another reason to party.
“The energy from the fans was incredible, flags everywhere, so much support,” he says.
“For me, standing on the top step at Hockenheim, hearing the anthem with all those German fans in front of me – it was incredibly emotional.”
A German driver, winning in a German car, with a German engine, and a helmet decorated in the colours of the German flag, with a nation riding the wave of World Cup glory.
For one week in July 2014 – in Germany at least – for Nico and Mercedes, there really was no place like home.