Ferrari tops both practice sessions at sweltering German GP

With track temperatures uncomfortably high at the sweltering German Grand Prix on Friday, Ferrari made the best of the conditions by topping both practice sessions.

Charles Leclerc finished ahead of teammate Sebastian Vettel in the afternoon, when the Hockenheimring track thermometer hit 51 degrees Celsius (124 F), reversing their positions from the already scorching morning session.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton was third in both sessions, while teammate Valtteri Bottas could improve from fifth to fourth.

"It was extremely hot. I can't remember the last time I drove in these conditions," said Bottas, who is Finnish. "The weather is going to be completely different tomorrow and on Sunday, with lower temperatures and a chance of rain. I actually hope for rain — it would be nice to drive in the wet."

Hamilton won the race in pouring rain last year, profiting after Vettel crashed while comfortably leading. On Friday, the five-time F1 champion Hamilton also struggled to get the best out of his Mercedes.

"These tires don't like the temperature. They were always overheating, so that's been the main issue," the British driver said. "We're hoping the weather won't be like this for the rest of the weekend. If it's cooler and it's dry, nothing from today really applies and everyone will be quicker."

Hamilton has won five of the past six races to take his career tally to 80 and he leads the championship by 39 points, with Bottas in second place overall.

Vettel, a four-time F1 champion but runner-up to Hamilton in the past two F1 championships, already trails Hamilton by 100 points and is in fourth overall. He needs a long run of wins to stand any realistic chance of catching Hamilton, but Vettel has not won for the past 18 races.

Another driver with a point to prove heading into Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race is Red Bull's Pierre Gasly.

The second practice was briefly suspended near the end after Gasly went off the track and smacked into the barriers, mangling both tires on the left side of his Red Bull car.

"We need to get the chassis back and have a proper look. Thankfully it's not the race engine but it is frustrating to lose a car at that point of the session," team principal Christian Horner said. "It's an annoying accident . ... We can't change it now, we have just got to get on with it."

The 23-year-old Gasly is having a difficult first season with Red Bull and has yet to secure a podium finish after 10 races. The Frenchman is sixth in the standings. His teammate Max Verstappen is third and has three podiums, including a brilliant win in Austria. Earlier Friday, Vettel topped the first practice by .255 seconds ahead of Leclerc. Verstappen was fourth quickest.

Bottas misjudged a late turn, swerved into gravel and only just managed to retain enough control of his car to avoid the barriers.

He lost control of his car at the same turn where Vettel crashed last year and relinquished the championship lead to Hamilton.

Bottas was not at his best on Friday, also going briefly off the track during P2. He is trying to earn a new contract for 2020, amid speculation he could be replaced at Mercedes by French driver Esteban Ocon or Verstappen.

Spanish GP circuit has not yet agreed to host race in 2020

The Spanish Grand Prix circuit owners say no deal has yet been reached to host a Formula One race next year. Spain holds one of five F1 races whose contracts run out this year, and attendance has fallen sharply from 140,000 spectators in 2007 to 90,000 in 2018.

Amid media reports a deal has been reached for 2020, the Barcelona-Catalunya Circuit says "no agreement has been reached yet with Formula One in order to renew," adding that negotiations are "still open." A final decision will be made known by the circuit.

F1 is expected to keep a 21-race calendar next year. But with the Vietnam GP and the Netherlands GP being added, two races are set to be dropped.

Valtteri Bottas set to learn his Mercedes future next month

Mercedes will decide next month whether to give Valtteri Bottas a new contract for 2020, with Esteban Ocon competing for the coveted seat alongside five-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas' contract expires at the end of this year, while Ocon is hoping to return to Formula One after missing this season.

Red Bull's 21-year-old Max Verstappen — who has six career wins and is considered F1's future star — is reportedly also in the running to join Mercedes. But Red Bull is committed to keeping him and a move to Mercedes appears problematic to push through.

While Mercedes head of motorsport Toto Wolff is pleased with Bottas, he also needs to look at the long-term future of the team.

"For us it is not only about making the right decision for next year but looking ahead," Wolff said Friday at the German GP. "This is why we agreed that we will take the decision in August, but it doesn't necessarily mean we will announce it in August."

Wolff urged the Finnish driver to "put in two solid performances in Hockenheim and Budapest" in Hungary, the last season before the mid-season break.

The 29-year-old Bottas won three races in 2017 during his first season with Mercedes after replacing Nico Rosberg following the 2016 world champion's surprise retirement. Bottas cemented a deal for 2018, but he failed to win a race last year.