Scuderia Ferrari drivers Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in first practice for the German Grand Prix, but Mercedes showed plenty of potential in taking the fight to the Italian side.
With a scorching FP2 to follow, and a potentially wet weekend after that, it remains unclear if Friday’s running at Hockenheim will be truly representative of what is to come. If nothing else, Ferrari will be boosted by their one-two finish, with Sebastian Vettel two tenths quicker than his team-mate.
Lewis Hamilton was third, three tenths off Sebastian, but his time was set on medium tyres, while the Scuderia Ferrari pair were fitted with softs, to suggest that Mercedes remain strong, despite cooling fears. Valtteri Bottas was three tenths away from his team-mate, and ended a frustrating session with a skip through the gravel at Sachs Kurve – scene of Sebastian Vettel’s costly off 12 months ago in the race. There was impressive progress further down the grid from Racing Point, with Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez going ninth and 11th fastest in the vastly updated RP19. Positive signs were also seen at Williams, despite both drivers again occupying the bottom spots on the timesheet, as Robert Kubica was just two tenths off 18th-placed Antonio Giovinazzi.
German GP FP1 Results
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 1:14.013
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1:14.268
3. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:14.315
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1:14.330
5. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 1:14.660
6. Pierre Gasly (Red Bull) 1:14.813
7. Carlos Sainz (McLaren) 1:15.062
8. Romain Grosjean (Haas) 1:15.074
9. Lance Stroll (Racing Point) 1:15.191
10. Daniel Ricciardo (Renault) 1:15.567
11. Sergio Perez (Racing Point) 1:15.604
12. Lando Norris (McLaren) 1:15.616
13. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) 1:15.759
14. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) 1:15.776
15. Alexander Albon (Toro Rosso) 1:15.777
16. Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) 1:15.823
17. Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) 1:15.953
18. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo) 1:16.382
19. Robert Kubica (Williams) 1:16.559
20. George Russell (Williams) 1:17.126
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