Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP drives during practice for the German Grand Prix. Source: Lars Baron / AP
Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg dominated the first practice for the German Grand Prix on Friday, and the new tyres supplied by Pirelli held.
Leading drivers have threatened to withdraw from Sunday's Formula One race if tyre problems persist, while teams were asked to stick to operating requirements.
Hamilton set the pace in the early session, completing the fastest lap in one minute, 31.754 seconds. Hamilton is still seeking his first win since joining Mercedes at the start of the season.
Rosberg, winner of two of the past three races, was .219 seconds behind. Australian Red Bull driver Marc Webber was third and Force India's Adrian Sutil was fourth.
Championship leader Sebastian Vettel, still looking for his first win on home soil, was eighth fastest. His closet challenger, Fernando Alonso, failed to complete a lap in his Ferrari, apparently due to electrical problems.
The tyre problems became an issue at last week's British GP, when five cars sustained blowouts, leading drivers to express concern for the safety of themselves, stewards and fans.
Tyre supplier Pirelli wants all teams to remain within the prescribed pressure limits and to stop switching tyres from left to right and vice versa.
The International Automobile Federation said on Friday it was the responsibility of each team to comply with the requirements.
Late Thursday, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GDPA) said the drivers would pull out if tyre problems persisted in Germany.
"We are ready to drive our cars to the limit, as we always do, and as it is expected by our teams, sponsors and fans," the GPDA said.
"However, the drivers have decided if similar problems should manifest themselves during the German GP, we shall immediately withdraw from the event, as this avoidable problem with the tyres endangers again the lives of drivers, marshalls and fans."
This weekend, the belt on the rear tyres will be made of Kevlar instead of steel in an effort to reduce the chance of punctures.
From the Hungarian GP at the end of this month, the tyres will change again, using the 2012 construction with 2013 compounds.
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