Nürburgring (Germany): Valtteri Bottas topped the times ahead of championship leader and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in Saturday morning’s belated and sole practice session ahead of Sunday’s Eifel Grand Prix.
The Finn clocked a best lap in one minute and 26.225 seconds to outpace the six-time champion by a tenth of a second.
| 1 Valtteri BOTTAS Mercedes | 1:26.225 |
| 2 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes | +0.136s |
| 3 Charles LECLERC Ferrari | +0.456s |
| 4 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull Racing | +0.671s |
| 5 Sebastian VETTEL Ferrari | +0.813s |
After both Friday sessions were cancelled due to fog and rain that prevented the use of the circuit medical helicopter, there was relief when on-track action began albeit with the notable absence of Racing Point’s Lance Stroll, due to an unspecified illness.
The team confirmed that Stroll was unwell and unable to take part, adding that a decision on their plans for qualifying later Saturday would be reviewed after practice.
It was not made clear if Stroll had tested positive for Covid-19.
His team-mate Sergio Perez was quarantined for two weeks after returning from Mexico and testing positive for the coronavirus ahead of the British Grand Prix in July.
German driver Nico Hulkenberg, who was drafted in at short notice to substitute for Perez at Silverstone, arrived during the session and, subject to passing a Covid-19 test, was clearly set to replace Stroll if required.
The Mercedes team were hit this week by two positive test results in their travelling race team, resulting in six of the team going into isolation. Six replacement staff were flown to Germany to replace them on Thursday.
