Sutil fastest in rain as Hamilton crashes
Adrian Sutil set the fastest time in a rain-hit first practice session at the Hockenheimring.
But McLaren’s hopes of gaining more useful information about their exhaust-blown diffuser were dashed when Lewis Hamilton crashed having done just eight laps.
Hamilton lost his McLaren at the exit of turn three, bounced across the grass and went into the barrier nose-first. The car rotated and hit the barrier at the left-rear corner causing significant damage.
Practice started on a very wet track which dried throughout the session.
Felipe Massa set the second fastest time after a series of spins on the drying track.
But the only other driver to join Hamilton in spinning out of the session was Bruno Senna, who got his HRT stuck in the gravel trap at the final corner in the final quarter of an hour.
Jenson Button improved to third at the end of an otherwise quiet session for McLaren.
Further rain is expected ahead of second practice in Germany.
| Pos. | Car | Driver | Car | Best lap | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | 14 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1’25.701 | 20 | |
| 2 | 7 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1’26.850 | 1.149 | 27 |
| 3 | 1 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’26.936 | 1.235 | 16 |
| 4 | 9 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1’26.947 | 1.246 | 21 |
| 5 | 12 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | 1’26.948 | 1.247 | 21 |
| 6 | 4 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1’27.448 | 1.747 | 20 |
| 7 | 16 | Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’28.114 | 2.413 | 31 |
| 8 | 10 | Nico Hülkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1’28.193 | 2.492 | 24 |
| 9 | 15 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1’28.300 | 2.599 | 19 |
| 10 | 22 | Pedro de la Rosa | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’28.486 | 2.785 | 23 |
| 11 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1’28.735 | 3.034 | 21 |
| 12 | 24 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’28.735 | 3.034 | 21 |
| 13 | 11 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 1’28.903 | 3.202 | 20 |
| 14 | 6 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1’29.048 | 3.347 | 13 |
| 15 | 18 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’29.280 | 3.579 | 17 |
| 16 | 17 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’29.366 | 3.665 | 34 |
| 17 | 2 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’29.429 | 3.728 | 8 |
| 18 | 25 | Lucas di Grassi | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’29.500 | 3.799 | 19 |
| 19 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1’29.684 | 3.983 | 15 |
| 20 | 23 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’29.690 | 3.989 | 17 |
| 21 | 19 | Fairuz Fauzy | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’30.938 | 5.237 | 27 |
| 22 | 21 | Bruno Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1’31.720 | 6.019 | 23 |
| 23 | 3 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1’32.450 | 6.749 | 13 |
| 24 | 20 | Sakon Yamamoto | HRT-Cosworth | 1’32.791 | 7.090 | 26 |
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Image (C) Force India F1 Team
manB said on 23rd July 2010, 11:57
i think Sutil is one of the best drivers in wet. So if its raining we may see him on podium on race day as redbull, ferrari and hamilton will struggle to keep their car on track lol :)
F1silverarrows said on 23rd July 2010, 12:01
vettel was 3 tenths faster then sutil’s time in the first sector nere the end, but didn’t complete the lap because he knew what he could do.
F1silverarrows said on 23rd July 2010, 11:57
will hamilton be in practice 2? or was the damage to much? any news…
Darren said on 23rd July 2010, 12:01
Without fail, every race, people getting all excited about times in Practice 1. It doesn’t matter, teams are just setting up and running different configurations.
Any one notice how Massa has become almost invisible this year? He hardly gets a mention.
Steph90 (@steph90) said on 23rd July 2010, 12:08
Actually I’d prefer it if he was. All I’m hearing is how terrible he’s doing! :P
Jean said on 23rd July 2010, 12:15
I agree with you – like I said above , Schu. 5 secs. slower than Rosberg , but they are trying things out in case of a wet race. Like the first Red Bull is P11 , but we know its the fastest car.
Tango said on 23rd July 2010, 12:23
Massa likes the wet so much, he tries to wash water around as much as possible. The guy has done a Silverstone 08 like stunt.
Jean D. said on 23rd July 2010, 12:34
Sutil is showing remarkable consistency this year and has always been quick in the wet. As for Schumi, one can only marvel at his state of denial. His dreams of a title in 2011 are a pie in the sky. Mercedes should better approach Sutil than keep him in 2011.
Dorian said on 24th July 2010, 0:20
You’re right….he is consistent and ballsy……I just wish he had some personality!!
Tango said on 23rd July 2010, 12:37
How bad is Yamamoto?
That bad ! I would be very annoyed if I were Bruno or Karun.
I did enjoy the later’s commentaries. Maybe we could put a mike in his helmet next time he races?
“Oups, here go the Mc Larens, who next? Let’s hope it’s not Webber, I’m kinda sweaty when I know he is about to lap me!”
DaveW said on 23rd July 2010, 14:13
He is approximately .3s worse than Michael Schumacher.
Todfod said on 24th July 2010, 9:24
Thats not saying much.
wasiF1 (@wasif1) said on 24th July 2010, 3:11
Nice to see Sutil there as well as Massa who had some spin but still manages to get a good lap time.The biggest surprise to me was Schumacher who finished 23rd,can anyone give me any reason as I missed some of the live blogging of the practice.
I don’t know whether it will be wet on Saturday & Sunday if it is then we may see people like Mclaren, Force India & even Ferrari to take the challenge to the Red Bulls.