None of the Germans competing in Formula One this season has won the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, giving Nico Rosberg another incentive on Sunday.

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel’s win on the Nurburgring circuit last year was his first German GP victory, highlighting the difficulty Germans seem to have in triumphing at home.

Vettel is one of just three local drivers to have claimed victories on home soil in 60 races.

Michael Schumacher’s four wins are more than any other driver, while his younger brother Ralf had one triumph in 2001.

Neither Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) nor Adrian Sutil (Sauber) is likely to win on Sunday, but the other competing Germans, Rosberg and, to a lesser extent, Vettel, have hopes.

“Last year was special. I tried many times before so it was definitely a good feeling to succeed,” Vettel said on Thursday.

“This year should be a very good weekend. Mostly good weather forecast and obviously the whole of Germany still has the German flags from the World Cup around. It would be nice to see a lot of those on the track.”

Vettel’s championship defence has not gone to plan, however. He’s failed to finish one third of his races, and claimed only two podium places from nine races.

“Of course we are not the favourites going into the weekend but there’s always a chance of winning,” the Red Bull driver said.

“For sure, this circuit is very special to me because my home town (Heppenheim) is only 30 minutes from here, it’s where I grew up. I also started go-karting not far from here, just around the corner, so a lot of memories.”

Mercedes pilot Rosberg leads the drivers’ championship by just four points from British teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Yet he maintained he was not feeling additional pressure after a momentous week in which he got married and signed a contract extension.

“We also became (football) world champions, which was awesome. In terms of the championship, how do I see it? I just see it as the next race, which is Hockenheim,” he said.

“I’m here to win, of course. I’m here to try to extend the championship lead.”