Max Verstappen keeps Red Bull on top in Germany

ByReuters

Updated 20/07/2018 at 17:40 GMT

Max Verstappen kept Red Bull on top of the German Grand Prix practice timesheets, and Lewis Hamilton off them, after team mate Daniel Ricciardo was fastest in the first session on Friday.

Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - GP of France 2018

Image credit: Getty Images

The 20-year-old Dutch driver set a quickest lap of one minute 13.085 in soaring afternoon track temperatures, with Formula One world champion Hamilton second and 0.026 slower for Mercedes.

Hamilton had been four thousandths of a second off the pace in the morning when Ricciardo lapped in 1:13.525.

German Grand Prix

Grosjean: German GP key to saving seat

03/10/2018 at 15:13

"It was a nice surprise to start so competitively here but we have to remember it is only Friday," said Verstappen. "The others will be quicker for qualifying."

Verstappen's pace may concern Mercedes more than Ricciardo's, with the Australian set to start from the back of the grid due to an accumulation of grid penalties, but he also lost time due to a small oil leak.

Hamilton was happy with his day's work as Hockenheim welcomed Formula One back after a year's absence for what could be the last grand prix there for some time.

"We've got through our programme today, finished all the sessions and got all the information we needed from the tyres," the Briton said.

"Both Ferrari and Red Bull were very quick today and I think it will be very similar tomorrow and on Sunday.

"It's going to be a serious challenge and it's not an easy track to get right, so we will have to give it everything," added the four-times champion.

Weather forecasts predict rain on Saturday with dry conditions on race day.

German Grand Prix