Mercedes drivers - including world championship leader Nico Rosberg - paid a visit to Hockenheim on Tuesday to mark the 90th anniversary of the German Grand Prix.

World championship leader Nico Rosberg and his Mercedes team-mates Nico Hulkenberg and Pascal Wehrlein started the countdown to this year's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim by taking some of their team's legendary cars out for a spin on the circuit.

The German Grand Prix is 90 this year and returns to the F1 calendar after being dropped 12 months ago. It's a home Grand Prix for Rosberg, and one he's especially looking forward to.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Nico Rosberg, Mercedes:

"Hockenheim is legendary and especially the motordrome which is the in-field section at the very end where it's like a soccer stadium. So many fans there to cheer us on you know and the atmosphere is just incredible."

Among the cars being taken out for a spin was the car Mika Hakkinen's drove to win the F1 crown in 1998. It's significance wasn't lost on Rosberg, who won the German Grand Prix in a Silver Arrow two years ago and currently leads the world championship standings by 24 points.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Nico Rosberg, Mercedes:
(on being able to drive the 1998 Mercedes around Hockenheim)

"That was a dream come true for me because I remember that from my childhood you know, that was the battle - Mika (Hakkinen) against (Michael) Schumacher and Mika was like a childhood hero for me you know and now to drive that race car, unbelievable and it felt great. But unfortunately it was raining out there so I couldn't really push to the limit because there was so much water so that's really a pity."