Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel, who has won a hat-trick of world championships but is still waiting for a first victory in his home Grand Prix, showed today that this could be his year.
Vettel managed the fastest time in the free practice ahead of qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix on the Nuerburgring.
The German posted a time of one minute 29.517 seconds for the 5.148 kilometre-long track, followed by compatriot Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes, who was half a second slower.
The third-fastest time belonged to Mark Webber in a Red Bull, with Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso fourth-fastest.
Preparations for Sunday’s race have been overshadowed by an ongoing controversy surrounding the tyres used after four drivers had their left rear tyre explode during the British Grand Prix last Sunday.
FIA has since issued instructions how the modified tyres have to be used this time around, while drivers have threatened not to race should the tyre problems repeat themselves.
Going into the race Vettel has a 21-point lead in the drivers’ standings over Alonso, while Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen is a further 13 points behind.