Q1 is red flagged after Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton crashes heavily at Turn 13, the Sachskurve. © FOWC Ltd
After joint analysis of the previously unseen failure with brake disc manufacturer Brembo, the team have confirmed that the quality of the disc material was not a contributory factor.
Instead, Mercedes say that “the specific interaction between the structure of the brake material in question and the brake mounting on the F1 W05 Hybrid was at the root of the failure”.
The team have already applied countermeasures to both the disc geometry and the mounting to ensure there can be no repeat of the failure, which means they can once again run Brembo brake disc material, should they choose to do so, in race conditions.
Hamilton’s off in Hockenheim qualifying meant he ended up starting the race from 20th on the grid. He went on to finish third behind team mate Nico Rosberg and Williams’ Valtteri Bottas.