Force India driver Adrian Sutil topped the timesheets at his home event this morning in the opening free practice session on the Hockenheim circuit. Felipe Massa was second followed by Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Vitaly Petrov, Nico Rosberg, Sebastien Buemi, Nico Hulkenberg, Tonio Liuzzi and Pedro de la Rosa.
Heavy rain and cool track temperatures were the call of the day as Jarno Trulli takes to the German track as soon as the pits go green, his Lotus fitted with full wet Bridgestone tyres. Several drivers cautiously follow him out a few having moments as they try to negotiate the puddles of standing water.
Fifteen minutes in and the rain starts to ease slightly and Jaime Alguersuari comes back out to set the first timed lap of the session. He has an issue at the hairpin but he rejoins with no issues and continues on to put the first time on the board.
Vettel is the next man to set a lap, a 1:36.905, second to his sister Toro Rosso car. The two men continue to tour the circuit with Vettel taking over at the top of the times with a 1:34.632. Webber is the next to put a time down with a 1:34.905.
It is very slow going in the first forty five minutes but the rain has almost stopped, but Massa finds a very wet spot at Turn three and spins his Ferrari. Kubica also has an off which Massa repeats moments later. Barrichello and Schumacher also have off track moments with no real damage done.
Times are rapidly going on the board with Trulli, di Grassi and Hamilton the only three not to set a time at the hour mark, Hamilton’s reasons looking to be mechanically related. Mark Webber is tops with Nico Hulkenberg second and Rosberg third with thirty minutes remaining.
Intermediates are on the cars and Vettel goes tops but Sutil is on a flyer and takes over at the top of the leaderboard. Hamilton is on track and goes fifteenth on his first timed lap, improving to seventh the next time around. Massa has another off and Buemi slots into second with Hulkenberg now third.
With twenty three minutes remaining, Lewis Hamilton crashes his McLaren at turn three, the same place where so many of his colleagues have some to grief this morning. His car is heavily damaged and the mechanics will have a lot to do if they plan on getting his back on track for the second session.
Kubica improves to ninth while Massa goes third and Senna beaches his HRT in the gravel.
The line is getting drier and drier for the final fifteen minutes with Rosberg then Massa taking over at the top of the leaderboard. Petrov slips into second but Sutil answers Massa’s challenge and reclaims P1. Vettel is on a flyer but it’s Barrichello that takes P3 before Button snatches the place away from the Williams racer.
The session ends and Sutil stays on top.
;)
