German Car Scene

F1 HOCKENHEIM: HAMILTON DOMINATES FREE PRACTICE

Posted 18th July, 2008 in Mercedes | Leave a comment

Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in both Friday’s Free Practice sessions for the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim. In the afternoon, Lewis completed 37 laps and posted a time of 1m15.025 which was the fastest time of the day. Heikki Kovalainen drove 37 laps and was fourth with a 1m15.990. In the morning session, Lewis was fastest with a 1m15.537 (22 laps) ahead of Heikki with a 1:15.666 (19 laps).

Lewis Hamilton
“The car felt quite different this afternoon compared to this morning’s running. Maybe the wind had picked up, or changed direction, but the car didn’t feel as stable. But by the end of the session, however, the car felt a lot more consistent - we found a good direction with the tyres and the set-up and so things look positive for tomorrow.”

Heikki Kovalainen
“The front-end of the car felt very good, but I felt less comfortable with the rear of the car, particularly in some of the slow-speed corners. But we made a number of small changes to the set-up and, by the middle of the session, I definitely felt I could push harder and found improved handling under both braking and traction. A good start to our weekend’s work.”

Ron Dennis
“Both Lewis and Heikki enjoyed a trouble-free opening day of practice, and while we don’t know the respective fuel loads of our rivals, we nonetheless feel comfortable with our pace. As the second of the team’s two home races, this is an important event for everybody - particularly for our colleagues in Stuttgart, thousands of whom join us this weekend. Lewis’s lap at the end of second practice looked extremely impressive - but we’re fully aware that there’s a lot of work ahead and that this will be an exciting and closely-contested grand prix.”

Norbert Haug
“Friday’s best time by Lewis was a good start to our home Grand Prix, the second one after Silverstone a fortnight ago. Before that we have been fast and consistent – now we will try to maintain this form for tomorrow and Sunday.”

[Source: Daimler]