1) What do you think the race podium will look like?
Hopefully there's going to be a little surprise in that podium, but I just expect the usual...Vettel walking away with it.
2) Will the revert on the engine map rules have any affect on the standings in the front? Will McLaren be back up there again?
I think their pace is going to return but they have to back it up with updates if they want to be more competitive.
3) Can DRS make a 'positive difference' to the overtaking opportunities on this track?
Uh...If only I knew where the DRS zone is. There are plenty of overtaking opportunities due to the nature of the circuit, apart from the main straight there could be some overtaking action if the DRS zone was between turns 12 and 14, and only some daring drivers could try overtaking in the Bit-Kurve or the Kumho-Kurve (they would do for some good action though).
4) Renault are bringing major updates, can they get back to their promising early season form?
I really hope so. I'm one big Renault fan and I want to see these guys back to the top as soon as possible, and apart from their livery they haven't been shining too much, which is sad for a team that got 2 straight podiums in the first two races, and it would be really sad if that string of good results turned out to be a fluke.
5) The tyre allocation for this race will be SOFT and MEDIUM - will the MEDIUM tyres throw some teams off like they did in Valencia?
The Nurburgring is a different track, better flowing than the boredrome, big fat waste of money and excuse for a boring track which is Valencia, and the climate is also different, being slightly cooler and more prone to changeable weather. So at this point it's unknown whether those tyres will do any good (or bad) to the teams and drivers in the race.
6) What do you think about the recent speculations about reintroducing testing? Does F1 need it? If yes, in what capacity? Young drivers only?
Keep it only for the young drivers. We've seen the results that the testing ban has produced ever since the 2009 season. We've seen closer fields and very close racing, almost incomparable to the boring races that came up until 2008. If you want to bring testing back, keep it only for the young drivers who have no experience in F1 because that has been the main downside of the in-season testing ban. But as usual, only the cars up to last season's spec are allowed to be tested, to keep the competition close.
7) Does Vettel already have this years WDC in his pocket or does the others still have a chance at it?
The only way for Vettel to lose this title now is for him to have his path crossed by a black cat while walking under a ladder on Friday the 13th. He's just bloody walking away with the title. He's won 6 races out of 9 so far, and he still manages to extend his lead when he doesn't win (worst race finish to date = 2nd), not to mention that he has a big enough error margin for him to throw three races away, and we're just halfway through the season! I do believe that the other drivers will be getting closer to his pace but I really think this year is over as far as who the champion is going to be, and the fight for runner-up is going to be the main focus soon.
8) Can someone like Perez or Kobayashi make for another race surprise?
If strategy plays well into their hands, both of them will be pushing the other drivers to the limit and hell, I can actually imagine Kobayashi having a go at someone in the Schumacher S and around the outside of the Dunlop-Kehre! I'd say put these guys on the back of the grid and we have a historic race full of talented drivers fighting their way through the field!