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Hamilton, who set a time just 0.057 seconds slower than
Rosberg’s best of one minute 15.783, was summoned to see the
stewards for being released from his garage in an unsafe manner.
Daniel Ricciardo went third for Red Bull with a late flier that
put him less than a tenth behind the Mercedes pair, indicating
that the German team may have more of a fight on their hands in
Saturday’s qualifying than the opening day of practice had
suggested.
Kimi Raikkonen was fourth for Ferrari ahead of team mate
Sebastian Vettel who is making his first appearance at home in
the Maranello-based squad’s scarlet colors.
Max Verstappen was sixth in the second Red Bull ahead of the
Williams pair of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa.
Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who celebrated his 35th birthday on
Friday, was ninth in his McLaren while Force India’s Nico
Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10.
Alonso’s team mate Jenson Button got back behind the wheel of
his McLaren after making a precautionary visit to hospital on
Friday to remove carbon dust lodged in his eye. He completed
only six laps, however, and was 19th.
Rosberg heads into Sunday’s race at the 4.5-km Hockenheim track
trailing Hamilton by six points in the standings, after
conceding the championship lead to the Briton at last weekend's
race in Hungary.
He won the last race at Hockenheim in 2014 and a repeat would
see him jump back to the top of the standings and allow him to
put the brakes on Hamilton, who has won five of the last six
races.
It would also give him a psychological edge over the reigning
champion heading into Formula One’s annual summer break.
(Editing by Clare Fallon)
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