RED BULL’S SEBASTIAN VETTEL says the home advantage of racing in Germany will provide a boost to his hopes of closing the gap on championship leader Jenson Button.

Vettel and teammate Mark Webber appeared to have reached a new plane of performance with Red Bull at Silverstone, easily out-pacing the rival Brawn machines around the British circuit.

And with the Milton Keynes-based outfit set to introduce a new series of updates for the upcoming round of the championship, Vettel believes he is poised for a strong display in front of his compatriots.

He said of the German event: “I’d say it’s like a soccer match when you play on your home ground. You always give 100 per cent, but in a home race you’re even more motivated, because at home you feel comfortable.

“Not far from the Nurburgring, in Kerpen, I got a lot of kart experience which is why I have many friends in this region.”

“During the 90 minutes of the race I do not think about which country I’m in, because I am concentrated on racing. But before and after, this is special because being at home is the best place to stay.

“I like it that there are so many fans of motorsport and that these people are cheering and support you with horns, flags and stuff like this. That influences your mood in a positive way. There is nothing better than the in-lap in front of your home crowd after winning a race.”

With Button claiming Brawn’s sub-par speed at Silverstone was a result of the cool conditions playing havoc with the car’s ability to generate heat in its tyres, Red Bull’s engineers have feverishly worked on further enhancing the aerodynamic efficiency of its challenger.

Vettel believes the additions will help maintain the advantage Red Bull appears to have forged over Brawn in the last month.

“The guys in the factory are working hard, so we have new parts at every race,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vettel’s charge to victory at the British GP has sparked a rush for tickets ahead of the Nurburgring race this weekend.

Organisers are stunned at the level of interest in the event in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, with tickets selling at 2007 rates.