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F1 Germany: Rain causes chaos in free practice session at Hockenheim (+photos)

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Khatir Soltani
Intermittent rain showers rendered times fairly irrelevant in terms of determining form in the first day of practice for the Grand Prix of Germany in Hockenheim. Because of the rain, teams frequently had to cut short evaluation runs for the updates they have brought with them.

Jenson Button German F1 GP 2012
Jenson Button, McLaren (Photo: Pirelli)

McLaren's Jenson Button set the fastest time in the morning session in his updated McLaren that features revised sidepods. His teammate Lewis Hamilton was second ahead of Fernando Alonso on the Ferrari. Button set his fast time when the track was completely dry.

Williams' test driver Valtteri Bottas set the 13th fastest time but crashed Bruno Senna's FW34 after he missed his braking for the Sachs hairpin corner in the stadium.

German F1 GP 2012
Mark Webber, Red Bull, and Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso (Photo: Pirelli)

Mercredes' Michael Schumacher and Sauber's Sergio Pérez rounded out the Top 5.

After the lunch break, Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado emerged quickest in the second free practice session in his Renault-powered Williams.

More intermittent rain showers meant that the conditons were difficult, but the track because a bit more dry at one moment.

Pastro Maldonado, Williams German F1 GP 2012
Pastro Maldonado, Williams (Photo: Pirelli)

Maldonado had the chance to be out on the race track at the right moment, and with the right sort of tires.

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
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