Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton took F1 German GP pole from Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas after disaster for Ferrari.
Q1:
There was drama already in the first part of F1 German GP qualifying at Hockenheim as Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was out already with no lap time set after a suspected issue as he complained on the radio of a power loss on his out lap ahead of Charles Leclerc.
The team tried to fix it up with the engine cover off but they had not much time as his session was over there and then, with the German to start in last place for his home grand prix. Reports suggested of a turbo failure with the airflow as Leclerc headed the standings.
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen was second with Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in third but the British driver had to do two laps to be there. In the bottom half, joining Vettel was McLaren’s Lando Norris (1m13.333s) in 16th, who could get a penalty.
The British looked like blocked Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon (1m13.461s) on the latter’s flying lap with the Thai racer ending up 17th ahead of the Williams duo of George Russell (1m14.721s) and Robert Kubica (1m4.839s) – the latter’s one lap was deleted.
Q2:
The strategy game was on in the second part of German GP qualifying with the two Mercedes drivers, Leclerc and Verstappen opting to use the medium tyres for their quick runs, while Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly used the soft compound in a split strategy.
But a power loss on his first run forced him to pit straightaway as he switched on to the soft compound for his quickest lap to start the grand prix. Hamilton led the way from Leclerc and Gasly ahead as the fight for Top 10 was pretty close.
Racing Point’s Sergio Perez made it in by just 0.010s from Alfa Romeo Racing’s Antonio Giovinazzi (1m12.786s) in 11th as drivers from eighth until 13th were only separated by 0.033s. A lock-up from Haas’ Kevin Magnussen (1m12.789s), meant he was only 12th.
Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m12.799s) was only 13th with Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat (1m13.135s) slotting in 14th from Racing Point’s Lance Stroll (1m13.450s), who made it into Q2 for the first time since the 2018 Japanese GP.
Q3:
As the final part of qualifying kick-started, disaster already stuck Ferrari with Leclerc not venturing out as well with the issue perhaps hurting the Monegasque as well. He is to start 10th with Hamilton taking provisional pole with a 1m11.767s lap time.
He did not improve on his time but it was enough for Hamilton to secure the German GP pole which is his fourth of the 2019 F1 season as Verstappen (1m12.113s) slotted in second with Bottas (1m12.129s) only managing third in the end.
It was Gasly (1m12.522s) in fourth despite his quickest lap was deleted with Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen (1m12.538s) doing well in fifth from Haas’ Romain Grosjean (1m12.851s) and McLaren’s Carlos Sainz (1m12.897s).
The Top 10 was then rounded out by Racing Point’s Perez (1m13.065s) in eighth, Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg (1m13.126s) ninth and Leclerc 10th.
German GP: Leclerc heads Verstappen in FP3 at a cooler Hockenheim
