Lapierre paces final test

Lapierre, the Macau GP winner one of the many pre-season favourites, stopped the clock in 1m33.785s, ahead of another Dallara-Opel user, Nico Rosberg (Team Rosberg).

"It was important for us to belong to the very top on the last day," said Lapierre. "This shows us that we are heading for Hockenheim in a well prepared state. My aim is to snatch the pole position at the first qualifying session."

Rosberg was 0.384secs off Lapierre's pace, and said: "For me, it was a difficult test. On the one hand, this was due to some problems from yesterday, which we have, fortunately, been able to sort out. On the other side, weather changes made proper set-up really difficult. In spite of that, we have learned a lot, and I am confidently looking forward to the first race next week."

Lewis Hamilton was third fastest, despite suffering a few problems with his big crash on Thursday.

"I am content with the result, considering the fact that, actually, I lack one day of testing due to my accident," said the Manor Motorsport Dallara-Mercedes pilot. "We tried to make up for the day we lost yesterday, which worked out quite well."

Fellow Brit Jamie Green was fourth fastest in his ASM Dallara-Mercedes, ahead of French team-mate Eric Salignon.


1 Nicolas Lapierre (Signature-Plus) Dallara-Opel 1m33.785s
2 Nico Rosberg (Team Rosberg) Dallara-Opel 1m34.169s
3 Lewis Hamilton (Manor) Dallara-Mercedes 1m34.287s
4 Jamie Green (ASM) Dallara-Mercedes 1m34.412s
5 Eric Salignon (ASM) Dallara-Mercedes 1m34.418s
6 Daniel La Rosa (HBR) Dallara-Opel 1m34.446s