The current circuit remains a fairly high downforce track that is light on tyres and brakes. To achieve a competitive lap time here requires all the normal chassis attributes: good traction (particularly out of the hairpins), good chassis balance, stability under braking and the best possible compromise between downforce and straight-line speed. As the circuit is situated close to the Eifel Mountains, weather can often play a major role in the outcome of races at the Nurburgring.

The Nurburgring has the full mixture of slow through to high-speed corners, from the revised first turn, hairpin and chicane, to the double medium-speed 'S' bends and the very high speed 'S' after the hairpin, taken at around 155mph (250kph). It also features a lot of undulation change, which is unusual for most modern circuits.

With high grip levels and reasonably high tyre wear, Bridgestone are taking soft and medium tyre options for this race. Higher downforce levels also affect fuel consumption, with the Brawn GP BGP001 expected to sip around 2.4kg of fuel each lap, while strategy will be dictated by the fuel penalty of around 0.4 seconds per 10kg of fuel carried.

The last race at the Nurburgring, held in 2007, saw Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button qualify the Honda RA107 in 14th and 17th places. Some dramatic weather conditions at the start of the race saw a number of cars spin off at the first corner, including Jenson. Rubens survived the onslaught to finish 11th, a lap down from winner Fernando Alonso.