Hamilton sets the pace

3:12pm Friday 18th July 2008

Lewis Hamilton continued from where he left off at Silverstone by setting the fastest time in first practice for Sunday's German Grand Prix.

The McLaren star has been on a high since his victory on home soil in the British Grand Prix 12 days ago to take up the lead of the Formula One World Championship.

Although currently in a three-way tie with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen, Hamilton has the edge on countback, and he is now determined to make it an outright advantage come Sunday.

Hamilton posted his hot lap as the chequered flag emerged at the end of the 90 minutes, pipping team-mate Heikki Kovalainen and Massa as the trio had traded fastest times in the closing stages on a drying Hockenheim track.

The conditions at the start of the session were a throw-back to the race at Silverstone when Hamilton reigned in the rain.

Hamilton dominated, winning the race by over a minute from Nick Heidfeld to pick up the mantle as the sport's new wet-weather king.

Lap times were initially in the low-to-mid one minute thirties, but as the rain relented and the quick tyres were applied, so those times naturally tumbled.

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