Buttton leads the way in Germany
2012-07-20 12:21
COULD BUTTON BE BACK ON PACE?: Jenson Button set the fastest time during the first practice session in Germany.
McLaren dominated a rain-hit opening practice ahead of the German Grand Prix. Jenson Button topped the time sheest followed by team mate Lewis Hamilton.
Intermittent showers made conditions tricky for drivers although the rain was nothing on the scale which caused chaos at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Valtteri Bottas crashed his Williams near the end of the session, smashing into the barriers on corner 13 and emerging unscathed to survey the damage.
WEATHER WOES
Button set the best time of one minute 16.595 seconds early in the session before the rain began while Hamilton, who will be taking part in his 100th Grand Prix on July 22, was 0.498 seconds behind.
They were followed by current championship leader Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Mercedes' Michael Schumacher. Conditions meant it was difficult to read anything significant into the timings.
The German Grand Prix is seen as crucial to McLaren's season after poor performances in the previous two races saw them slip down the standings.
The session was the debut for the new version of the cars following a series of upgrades.
The Red Bull pair made little impact with Sebastian Vettel 12th fastest and Mark Webber 20th.
First practice session results from the German Grand Prix:
1. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1min16.595
2. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 1min17.093
3. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 1min17.370
4. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Mercedes 1min17.382
5. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Sauber 1min17.413
6. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India 1min17.599
7. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1min17.915
8. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1min17.995
9. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams 1min18.020
10. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus 1min18.130
11. Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) Sauber 1min18.226
12. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull 1min18.339
13. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams 1min18.422
14. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso 1min18.709
15. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus - Renault 1min18.831
16. Jules Bianchi (France) Force India 1min18.972
17. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso 1min19.039
18. Vitaly Petrov (Russia) Caterham 1min19.674
19. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Caterham 1min19.963
20. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull 1min20.122
21. Charles Pic (France) Marussia 1min20.169
22. Timo Glock (Germany) Marussia 1min20.539
23. Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) HRT 1min21.138
24. Dani Clos (Spain) HRT 1min21.740
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