Scorching Hamilton has content team-mate Rosberg in his sights

Lewis Hamilton spearheaded another one-two for Mercedes in practice, but Daniel Ricciardo is threatening to spoil the German manufacturing giant’s party on home soil.
Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain speeds during the free practice session at the German Formula One Grand Prix in Hockenheim. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain speeds during the free practice session at the German Formula One Grand Prix in Hockenheim. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)
Mercedes Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain speeds during the free practice session at the German Formula One Grand Prix in Hockenheim. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

It was a close run thing between the two championship protagonists as Hamilton finished just 0.024 seconds clear of German team-mate Nico Rosberg following the two 90-minute sessions at a hot Hockenheim ahead of the German Grand Prix.

In scorching temperatures of 32 degrees centigrade, and with the track thermometer hitting a searing 58, Hamilton finished with a time of one minute 18.341 seconds after finally getting to grips with the circuit and the loss of FRIC.

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Ahead of this race FIA race director Charlie Whiting caused a stir amongst the teams by sending a letter threatening to outlaw the front and rear interconnected (FRIC) device.

FRIC enables the cars to maintain a constant ride height, and is believed to have played a role in Mercedes’ dominance so far this season.

Following a detailed investigation of most of the systems, Whiting felt FRIC contravenes one of the FIA’s catch-all regulations with regard to moveable aerodynamic devices.

In fear of a rival launching a protest, the FIA confirmed all teams had opted to remove the device prior to practice.

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On track it was immediately apparent as to its benefits as a number of cars ran wide in the slow corners due to them being forced to run a higher, stiffer front suspension.

The Mercedes’ of Rosberg and Hamilton were high amongst those who suffered difficulties during the first session, in particular the latter.

Hamilton was comfortably fastest in the opening two sectors, but in the third was off the pace, and so had to settle for second best behind Rosberg.

Come FP2, and after getting used to the new feel of the car, the 29-year-old hit back to narrowly pip Rosberg, who is aiming to complete the best week of his life.

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Rosberg, who over the past few days has got married, watched Germany win the World Cup and signed a new long-term deal with Mercedes, is determined to land victory in front of his fans.

Ricciardo, however, may yet throw a spanner in the works as the Red Bull driver finished just a 10th of a second adrift, as close as anyone has got to Mercedes at the end of Friday practice.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, fit again after damaging ribs and sustaining bruising following his heavy-impact shunt into a barrier on the first lap of the British Grand Prix a fortnight ago, was a distant fourth, half a second down.

Kevin Magnussen – driving a McLaren sporting a new rear wing – and Felipe Massa for Williams were both over 0.6secs adrift, followed by Jenson Button in his McLaren, with the Briton 0.880secs off the pace.

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Button was in good company as he was followed by two other world champions in Sebastian Vettel in his Red Bull and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso.

After a successful practice outing for Williams development driver Susie Wolff in FP1, Valtteri Bottas returned to the car for FP2 and was a second adrift in 10th.

Wolff, meanwhile, conjured a strong performance in FP1, finishing only a quarter of a second behind Massa, although was handed two fines for pitlane speeding.

There was also an electrical glitch on her opening installation lap that threatened to scupper the 31-year-old Scot’s outing, which would have been an injustice given an engine issue ruined her maiden run at Silverstone after just four laps.

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Marussia’s Max Chilton finished 3.5secs behind Hamilton in 21st, with Kamui Kobayashi propping up the timesheet after his Caterham caught fire on track.

Fernando Alonso, meanwhile, has voiced his frustration at the latest rumours linking him with a move away from Ferrari.

Not for the first time in Alonso’s career, and in light of another difficult season with the team, the double world champion is being linked with a move away from the Maranello marque.

Speculation has Alonso lined up for a return to McLaren seven years after an ignominious departure from the Woking-based marque. Alonso, however, is adamant he is not looking to move on, despite a year that will ultimately end without a trophy for a fifth successive campaign with Ferrari. McLaren next year are aiming for a serious assault on the championship as they will be reunited with Honda power following a richly successful partnership in the 1980s.

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“Every year now I get asked this question in July, maybe since I started in 2003,” said a frustrated Alonso when quizzed on his future.

“I haven’t talked with any other team and it’s not my priority.

“We have to score some good points this weekend and get some good results this year.”