Button tops first practice at Hockenheim
F1 Grand Prix, GP Germany, Hockenheimring
Jenson Button topped the first free pratice session at Hockenheim thanks to setting a flying lap before rain started to fall on the German circuit. Lewis Hamitlon came second fastest with a time set after the shower. Fernando Alonso was third.
The session ended with drama though as Valtterri Bottas, driving for Williams ended up in the gravel trap at Sachs Kurve, Turn 13. He carried too much speed into the corner and lost the rear, spinning off the track. With two minutes left on the clock, the yellow flags meant the session was effectively cut short.
Results
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:16.595 | - | 27 |
| 2 | 4 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:17.093 | 0.498 | 22 |
| 3 | 5 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1:17.370 | 0.775 | 21 |
| 4 | 7 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1:17.382 | 0.787 | 20 |
| 5 | 15 | Sergio Perez | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:17.413 | 0.818 | 28 |
| 6 | 12 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India-Mercedes | 1:17.599 | 1.004 | 17 |
| 7 | 8 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:17.915 | 1.320 | 27 |
| 8 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:17.995 | 1.400 | 22 |
| 9 | 18 | Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Renault | 1:18.020 | 1.425 | 20 |
| 10 | 10 | Romain Grosjean | Lotus-Renault | 1:18.130 | 1.535 | 21 |
| 11 | 14 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:18.226 | 1.631 | 22 |
| 12 | 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull Racing-Renault | 1:18.339 | 1.744 | 21 |
| 13 | 19 | Valtteri Bottas | Williams-Renault | 1:18.422 | 1.827 | 28 |
| 14 | 16 | Daniel Ricciardo | Str-Ferrari | 1:18.709 | 2.114 | 30 |
| 15 | 9 | Kimi Räikkönen | Lotus-Renault | 1:18.831 | 2.236 | 14 |
| 16 | 11 | Jules Bianchi | Force India-Mercedes | 1:18.972 | 2.377 | 21 |
| 17 | 17 | Jean-Eric Vergne | Str-Ferrari | 1:19.039 | 2.444 | 34 |
| 18 | 21 | Vitaly Petrov | Caterham-Renault | 1:19.674 | 3.079 | 24 |
| 19 | 20 | Heikki Kovalainen | Caterham-Renault | 1:19.963 | 3.368 | 24 |
| 20 | 2 | Mark Webber | Red Bull Racing-Renault | 1:20.122 | 3.527 | 27 |
| 21 | 25 | Charles Pic | Marussia-Cosworth | 1:20.169 | 3.574 | 20 |
| 22 | 24 | Timo Glock | Marussia-Cosworth | 1:20.539 | 3.944 | 18 |
| 23 | 22 | Pedro de la Rosa | Hrt-Cosworth | 1:21.138 | 4.543 | 24 |
| 24 | 23 | Dani Clos | Hrt-Cosworth | 1:21.740 | 5.145 | 27 |
