Max third in Hockenheim FP1

Published on 20 July 2018 by Stefan Meens

Max Verstappen opened his German Grand Prix weekend with a third place in the opening Friday practice session. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing team mate Daniel Ricciardo was quickest, ahead of Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes.

Coinciding with their home race, Mercedes announce their driver line-up for next year with Valtteri Bottas’ contract being extended to cover 2019. The news broke less than 24 hours after Lewis Hamilton announced a new two-year deal, tying him to the Silver Arrows until 2020.

In other news, there are a couple of FP1 drivers returning; Antonio Giovinazzi jumps back in the Sauber, instead of Marcus Ericsson, and Esteban Ocon has to make way for Nicolas Latifi.

When the session gets underway, Max hits the track after six minutes on a set of medium Pirellis. Although he is not the first car on circuit, he is the first to post a time.

After half an hour, Giovanizzi causes a virtual safety car after the left half of his Sauber’s engine cover flew off. After the piece of bodywork is retrieved, the session is resumed.

Meanwhile, Max is completing race simulations with high fuel loads on the medium tyres. Later on in the session, the Dutchman switches to the ultra-soft Pirellis, resulting in faster lap times.

In the second part of the session, Hulkenberg has a narrow escape in the stadium section. The German goes wide into the gravel and is barely able to keep his car out of the wall. Nontheless, he succeeds and is able to resume with an undamaged car.

In the closing stages, nobody improves on their lap times, resulting in a top three of Ricciardo, Hamilton and Max.

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Results first free practice Germany: