Mercedes on top in German practice

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg dominate the opening two practice sessions ahead of the Formula One German GP.

Mercedes lead Red Bull by 158 points [AP]

Lewis Hamilton denied Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg the satisfaction of lapping fastest at his home German Grand Prix as he set a sizzling pace with a quickest lap of one minute 18.341 seconds in the afternoon session.

Formula One world championship leader Rosberg, who had been fastest before lunch with a best of 1:19.131, was second on the timesheets a mere 0.024 off Hamilton’s pace.

F1 drivers table (top-5)

Drivers

1 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 165
2 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 161
3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull 98
4 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 87
5 Valtteri Bottas Williams 73

Constructors

1 Mercedes 326
2 Red Bull 168
3 Ferrari 106
4 Williams 103
5 Force India 91

Dominant Mercedes, seeking their first German Grand Prix victory as a works team since Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio triumphed 60 years ago at the Nuerburgring, finished one-two in both sessions.

Mercedes also made a rare pitlane bungle when they had the wrong tyres ready for Hamilton during a race simulation and Rosberg had to wait behind him with overheating brakes.

The others

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who has won the last two races at the southern circuit which alternates with the Nuerburgring, was third fastest in the morning – and 0.292 off the pace – and then ninth in the afternoon.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, the only driver other than the Mercedes pair to win a race this season, was fourth and third fastest respectively. The Australian’s quadruple champion team mate and last year’s German GP winner Sebastian Vettel was sixth and eighth.

Further back, Susie Wolff had a second chance to make her mark among the men after her involvement at Silverstone two weeks ago was cut short due to an engine problem with the Williams. The first woman to take part in a grand prix weekend in 22 years managed 22 laps in the morning session and ended up an impressive 15th fastest, only a fraction slower than the Force India of 14th placed Mexican Sergio Perez.

Source: Reuters