Di Grassi quickest in second Berlin practice

Most drivers completed qualifying simulations on the abrasive Tempelhof track surface, and it was Championship leader Di Grassi who led the way in his Audi Sport Abt car.

The Brazilian set a time of 1m22.032s, 0.160s ahead of second placed Nicolas Prost in the e.dams Renault.

“We have been working hard to make the car better,” said Di Grassi. “It is important to be consistent. If I take pole it would be very nice but we are focusing on the race later on really.”

Jerome D’Ambrosio placed third in his Dragon Racing entered car, ahead of Virgin's Jaime Alguersuari and Andretti duo Jean-Eric Vergne and Scott Speed. The top six were covered by just 0.276s.

Nelson Piquet Jr. was initially way down the order in the session, having several brake lock-ups as he struggled to control his China Racing machine, but hauled himself up to seventh position in the final five minutes of the session.

Turn One won't be policed

Concerns about drivers ignoring track limits at Turn One were rendered obsolete after Race Control issued a message during the session that they would not be monitored at this section of the airfield track.

The rough nature of the concrete surface at the Tempelhof airfield is making degradation of the Michelin tyres high so far in the practice running.

With teams being allocated only four new front tyres and four new rear per event and one additional front and rear tyre carried over from the previous event at Monaco, tyre management will be critical in the race's latter stages.