German GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Times

GERMAN GRAND PRIX - FREE PRACTICE #1

    After being dropped from the 2015 calendar due to shareholder/financial issues, the German GP weekend is back and drivers expressed their excitement to get back to driving at the Hockenheimring. In this first session, Esteban Ocon and Charles Leclerc also got to participate, with Ocon taking over Palmer's car at Renault and Leclerc driving for Gutierrez at Haas. 

    It was a Mercedes 1-2 with Nico Rosberg taking that top spot with an impressive 1:15.517. Hamilton was right behind, his time also in the 1:15's. Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen and Max Verstappen rounded up the top five. 

    A good session for McLaren with both cars finishing in the top 10. Fernando Alonso finished the session in 7th and Button in 8th. Alonso also celebrated his 35th birthday and was seen in his garage wearing a party hat and taking photos with a cake version of his racing helmet

    Before the session started, there was a confirmation that the 'Halo' concept will not be used in 2017 and that it will most likely be introduced in 2018 instead. Another change is that the radio restrictions have been relaxed and teams/drivers are allowed to get help without earning possible penalties.

TIMES:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:15.517 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Lewis Hamilton - 1:15.843 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:16.667 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:16.852 / Ferrari-Ferrari

5. Max Verstappen - 1:16.927 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

6. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:17.089 / Red Bull-TAG-HEUER

7. Fernando Alonso - 1:17.183 / McLaren-Honda

8. Jenson Button - 1:17.612 / McLaren-Honda

9. Daniil Kvyat - 1:18.008 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

10. Carlos Sainz - 1:18.044 / Toro Rosso-Ferrari

11. Marcus Ericsson - 1:18.198 / Sauber-Ferrari

12. Valtteri Bottas - 1:18.210 / Williams-Mercedes

13. Felipe Massa - 1:18.322 / Williams-Mercedes

14. Romain Grosjean - 1:18.589 / Haas-Ferrari

15. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:18.591 / Force India-Mercedes

16. Sergio Perez - 1:18.628 / Force India-Mercedes

17. Charles Leclerc* - 1:18.882 / Haas-Ferrari

18. Kevin Magnussen - 1:18.933 / Renault-Renault

19. Felipe Nasr - 1:18.961 / Sauber-Ferrari

20. Esteban Ocon* - 1:18.981 / Renault-Renault

21. Rio Haryanto - 1:19.167 / Manor-Mercedes

22. Pascal Wehrlein - 1:19.975 / Manor-Mercedes

* - Driving in this session only

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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