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The Finn maintained the momentum of his victory in Russia two weeks ago as he posted a best lap in one minute and 26.225 seconds to overtake the six-time champion by one tenth of a second.
Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes F1 driver. Image: @ ValtteriBottas / Twitter
NÜRBURGRING – Valtteri Bottas topped the times ahead of championship leader and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in Saturday morning’s late and only practice session before Sunday’s Eifel Grand Prix.
The Finn maintained the momentum of his victory in Russia two weeks ago as he posted a best lap in one minute and 26.225 seconds to overtake the six-time champion by one tenth of a second.
After the cancellation of the two sessions on Friday due to fog and rain that prevented the use of the circuit’s medical helicopter, there was relief when the action began on the track, although with the notable absence of the Racing Point Lance Stroll, due to an illness specified.
The team confirmed that Stroll was unwell and was unable to participate, adding that a decision on his plans for qualifying later on Saturday would be reviewed after practice.
It was unclear if Stroll had tested positive for Covid-19.
His teammate Sergio Pérez was quarantined for two weeks after returning from Mexico and testing positive for the coronavirus ahead of the British Grand Prix in July.
German pilot Nico Hulkenberg, who was recruited on short notice to replace Pérez at Silverstone, arrived during the session and, subject to passing a Covid-19 test, was clearly set to replace Stroll if necessary.
The Mercedes team was hit this week by two positive test results on its road racing team, causing six of the teams to isolate themselves. Six members of the replacement staff were flown to Germany to replace them on Thursday.
Conditions at the Nurburgring remained cool with an air temperature of just eight degrees and a track temperature of 14 as the teams began a major “ recovery ” process in F1’s first return to the track since 2013.
Both Mercedes cars were fitted with new engines for a session in which the teams concentrated on collecting data in the difficult conditions, working specifically on tire performance.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third fastest as the Italian team showed better form in cold weather, with Max Verstappen fourth for Red Bull and four-time champion Sebastian Vettel fifth after a troublesome session in the second Ferrari.
Lando Norris, racing this weekend alongside his McLaren teammate Carlos Sainz wearing his own designed helmets marking World Mental Health Day, was sixth ahead of Pérez, Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon in second. Red Bull and Pierre Gasly from Alpha Tauri.
The sport’s governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), announced early Saturday that they were introducing new medical evacuation procedures as a contingency plan in case thick fog returned to prevent the helicopter from flying.
In the plan, a circuit ambulance would drive three kilometers to a newly created landing area at a lower altitude if there were casualties to be transported to the hospital.
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