German GP: Leclerc leads rain-hit Practice 3, Hamilton unwell

Star InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar InactiveStar Inactive
 

Sauber driver Charles Leclerc posted the fastest time in a rain-hit final practice session at the German GP which saw very limited running.

As forecast, the heavens have opened at Hockenheim with persistent rain falling throughout the final hour. Some drivers went out early, including the two Renaults, but soon returned to the pits with Carlos Sainz going for a spin at the normally flat-out Turn 7.

A prolonged spell without any action ensued as the rain intensity increased, but in the final 10 minutes, some drivers did head out with Leclerc beating the initial benchmark set by Nico Hulkenberg.

Sebastian Vettel would be next to go quickest before also spinning but it would be the Monegasque, who has been linked to Ferrari for next year, who splashed around to return to the top with a 1m34.577s.

Teammate Marcus Ericsson would move upto second ahead of Sergey Sirotkin with Vettel dropping to fourth.

Only nine drivers in total would set a time as the FIA decided not to permit the additional set of wet-weather tyres that is made available on a Friday but is at their discretion on a Saturday morning.

A potential bombshell emerged before the session that Lewis Hamilton could be a doubt for qualifying through illness. Mercedes would confirm he would drive, however, and sure enough, the Briton completed just a single lap at the end.

With conditions unlikely to change before qualifying a very eventful session appears to be in store.

 

         

 

 

Search