Nico Müller fastest in first free practice of 2019 at Hockenheim

Audi Sport dominated the first free practice session of the 2019 DTM season at Hockenheim with four cars in the top five and Team Abt Sportlines’ Nico Müller setting the fastest lap time with 1:30.476.

The session was briefly neutralised with a slow zone five minutes into the running when BMW Motorsport Team RBM’s Joel Eriksson went off at Turn 10, with the Swede able to return to the pits on his own power.

Swiss driver Müller’s lap time was 1.8 seconds faster than Gary Paffett’s pole position time a year ago, then at the wheel of the aspirated Mercedes-AMG C63 DTM. Müller was followed by Team Rosberg’s René Rast, 0.361 seconds and team-mate Robin Frijns, 0.456 seconds behind.

Customer Audi team WRT driver Jonathan Aberdein had a competitive session staying at the front in the early stages and finishing in fourth place, six-tenths from the top time.

Marco Wittmann was the best of the rest for BMW Motorsport, 0.692 seconds behind Müller, with Audi Sport Team Phoenix’s Mike Rockenfeller and Loïc Duval sixth and seventh, the Frenchman nine-tenths off the pace. Team Rosberg’s Jamie Green was eight.

Team RMG’s Timo Glock and Team RBM’s Philipp Eng completed the top ten, with the Austrian 1.2 seconds off the pace.

Daniel Juncadella was the best of the Aston Martin Vantage DTM drivers in 14th place, 1.7 seconds behind Müller.

The second free practice session is scheduled for 16:30 CEST.