Rosberg leads Mercedes one-two in PR1

HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY - JULY 18: Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP drives during practice ahead of the German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring on July 18, 2014 in Hockenheim, Germany. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

HOCKENHEIM, GERMANY - JULY 18: Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP drives during practice ahead of the German Grand Prix at Hockenheimring on July 18, 2014 in Hockenheim, Germany. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

Published Jul 18, 2014

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Hockenheim, Germany - Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg led team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes one-two in first practice for Rosberg's home Grand Prix on Friday.

The session was the first since the governing body ruled against a front and rear interconnected suspension (FRIC) system and all teams presented their cars for scrutineering without it on Thursday.

The times indicated little change in the pecking order however, with Rosberg setting a fastest lap of 1m19.131s and Hamilton 0.065sec slower on a bright and hot Hockenheim morning.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who has won the previous two races at the southern circuit which alternates with the Nurburgring, was third, 0.292sec off the pace.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, the only driver other than the Mercedes pair to win a race this season, was fourth fastest with quadruple champion team mate and last year's German GP winner Sebastian Vettel sixth.

WOLFF AMONG THE FLOCK

Further back, Susie Wolff had a second chance to make her mark among the men after her involvement at Silverstone two weeks ago was cut short due to an engine problem.

The first woman to take part in a Grand Prix weekend in 22 years managed 22 laps this time and ended up an impressive 15th fastest, only a fraction slower than the Force India of 14th placed Mexican Sergio Perez.

Perez had made headlines in Britain when he jokingly told a Spanish television reporter that he would not want to be beaten by a woman driver. His time on Friday of 1:20.598 compared to Wolff's 1:20.769.

Brazilian Felipe Massa, the team's experienced regular, was only 11th fastest with a best time of 1:20.542.

Wolff's session was not without stress, however, and she hit trouble on her opening lap out of the garage when the car suffered a sensor problem. - Reuters

RESULTS

1 Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes - 1:19.131

2 Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes - 1:19.196

3 Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari - 1:19.423

4 Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull - 1:19.697

5 Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren - 1:19.833

6 Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull - 1:20.097

7 Kevin Magnussen (Denmark) McLaren - 1:20.105

8 Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari - 1:20.210

9 Daniil Kvyat (Russia) Toro Rosso - 1:20.337

10 Adrian Sutil (Germany) Sauber - 1:20.505

11 Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams - 1:20.542

12 Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso - 1:20.586

13 Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India - 1:20.592

14 Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India - 1:20.598

15 Susie Wolff (Britain) Williams - 1:20.769

16 Giedo van der Garde (Netherlands) Sauber - 1:20.782

17 Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus - 1:21.603

18 Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Lotus - 1:21.854

19 Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) Caterham - 1:22.572

20 Jules Bianchi (France) Marussia - 1:22.982

21 Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Caterham - 1:23.256

22 Max Chilton (Britain) Marussia - 1:23.299

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