German GP – Free Practice 1: Alonso Ahead of Red Bull, Schumacher 10th

Many drivers went out as soon as the session started, unlike most of the time, and the main ‘novelty’ of this session was the return to the Valencia engine regulations, with the blown diffuser being permitted again. Another surprise was Karun Chandhok replacing Jarno Trulli for the weekend, as the Italian is about to extend his contract. Most of them did an installation lap before returning to the pits.

It is Nick Heidfeld who then sets the first time at 1’38’313 before being joined by several drivers. The German is testing the new Lotus Renault exhausts, similar to the Red Bull type. His Russian teammate does not have this system due to an overweight issue.

Nico Rosberg then sets the fastest time on soft tires as his teammate takes to the track. Lewis Hamilton also improves the time by setting the best sectors.

Most of the drivers are working with soft tires, aiming to gather all the necessary data for qualifying without risking getting caught by the rain expected in the afternoon.

After several laps, it’s Sebastian Vettel who displaces Lewis Hamilton from first place with a time of 1:32.760, two-tenths faster than the Briton, while the Australian from Red Bull is only 12 thousandths behind the McLaren driver. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso records the fourth fastest time on medium tires, which will be the prime tires for this weekend.

At mid-session, it’s Sebastian Vettel in the lead, followed by Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber, Fernando Alonso, and Jenson Button. But the Spaniard has not yet switched to soft tires, while his compatriot from Toro Rosso records the 14th fastest time and continues to improve. A little before the last half-hour, many drivers return to the track, including Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, and Heikki Kovalainen. But Fernando Alonso is back on the attack with soft tires, setting the best times in the first and third sectors and improving his second, but falling short by 38 thousandths to Sebastian Vettel, who also goes out and improves the best first sector. The German makes a mistake in the second sector, and only improves by two thousandths. The battle is on between the reigning world champion and the Spanish driver.

Moreover, he sets the absolute fastest time at 1:32.037, half a second quicker than the Red Bull driver by achieving the best times in all three sectors. As for Mark Webber, he improves all his sectors to set the second fastest time ahead of his teammate. But the Ferrari driver then dips below the 1:32 mark, while his teammate finishes 7 tenths behind the Spaniard. The top five teams are within the first nine positions, except for Nick Heidfeld, who tests the new Lotus Renault exhausts and is in 14th position.

The seven-time German world champion makes a small braking error and goes through the gravel trap, taking the opportunity to wave to the many spectators who came out for the six German drivers on the track. A nice gesture from Michael Schumacher. In the last 15 minutes, Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel return to the track, along with the two Force India drivers who both improve their times in the green and orange car. Mark Webber follows his teammate, while Nico Hülkenberg takes 8th place before his compatriot takes it back from him.

Sebastian Vettel went back out on medium tires to test the difference with the previously used soft tires, just like Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton. The Spaniard from Ferrari is still pushing hard with his soft tires, setting the two best times in the first sectors, while Sebastien Buemi crashes out violently, his car jumping into the air before coming to a stop in the gravel without serious damage.

So it is Fernando Alonso who takes the lead by improving in the last lap of the session, while Lewis Hamilton is one of the fastest drivers, if not the best on medium tires.

Free Practice 1 Standings of the 2011 German Grand Prix: