Vettel concludes German GP practice on top

Rain was falling at the start of the session, meaning drivers and teams would once again have to deal with tricky and slippery conditions at Hockenheim.

Everyone did an installation lap before pitting and waiting for the shower to clear away from the circuit.

Lucas di Grassi was the first to post a time on the board but Sebastian Vettel was also out on track and immediately lowered the target time to 1’27’’311. The local favorite improved his time lap after lap and ended his first run with a 1’24’’988 fastest time.

At that point, the rain had stopped and the track was drying. Felipe Massa took advantage of these improving conditions to better Vettel’s mark and take over at the front with a 1’24’’017.

So, halfway through the session, the Ferrari driver was leading from Vettel, Liuzzi, Kobayashi and Rosberg. Eleven drivers - including Button, Hamilton and Webber – were still to post a time.

Teams then started to ponder the use of slick tyres despite some remaining damp areas, particularly at Turn 6. Sebastien Buemi was the first to go out on the harder slick tyres and went instantly faster than the rest of the field. As he set a lap of 1’21’’369, his teammate Jaime Alguersuari moved up to P2, making it a one-two for Toro Rosso.

With just over 15 minutes remaining, Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton completed their first flying laps of the day. The Australian was up in P1 at the end of his second lap, with a 1’20’’360. The McLaren driver moved up to third but was subsequently demoted to fourth by Buemi.

Webber, Button and Massa then traded the fastest time for a while, until Lewis Hamilton upped the pace. The Briton was the first to dip under the 1’18 barrier. Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher almost matched his pace and moved up to 2nd, while Massa stroke back with a 1’17’’171 to reclaim the lead.

The harder tyres were swapped for the softer ones, in the final part of the session.

Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel stormed at the front, lapping in the 1’16. The Red Bull driver set a 1’16’’087 to come on top while his teammate demoted Alonso to third. It was then Hamilton’s turn to lower his time and move up to P2, 0.120 shy of Vettel’s mark.

The pace got even hotter in the last minutes with Webber and Alonso lapping in the high 1’15. The Ferrari driver went slightly faster than his Red Bull rival. It looked like the Spaniard had done enough to conclude the session on top, but Vettel pipped him for top spot under the chequered flag.

The German completed his fastest lap in 1’15’’103, 0.284 faster than Alonso. Webber was third, Massa fourth and Rosberg fifth. Lewis Hamitlon was sixth fastest, 1.104 slower than Vettel.

Schumacher, Barrichello, Kubica and Hulkenberg completed the top ten.

A drive shaft problem meant Friday morning’s pacesetter Adrian Sutil could get no significant running in this final practice session. He only completed two slow laps.