Audi’s Nico Müller was the quickest driver in the first DTM practice session on the Grand Prix layout on the Lausitzring, over half a second ahead of BMW’s Philipp Eng.
Müller, who is comfortably leading the championship by 39 points, posted a lap of 1 minute 37.425 seconds after just under 15 minutes to top the times, in a session which saw few improvements in the second half.
Eng was the best of the Munich marque’s drivers, ahead of Audi Sport Team Rosberg’s Jamie Green in third.
WRT’s Ferdinand von Habsburg was just 0.012 seconds further back in fourth, ahead of reigning champion René Rast in fifth.
Robin Frijns and Loïc Duval made it six Audi drivers in the top seven places, ahead of BMW’s Marco Wittmann in eighth, the German being just over a second off the pace.
BMW Team RMR’s Jonathan Aberdein and Lucas Auer completed the top ten.
Second practice is scheduled to get underway at 16:30 CEST (15:30 BST).
Session results
| POS | NO | DRIVER | NAT | ENTRANT | CAR | LAPS | TIME | GAP |
| 1 | 51 | Nico MÜLLER |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 25 | 1:37.425 | 0.000 |
| 2 | 25 | Philipp ENG |  |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 23 | 1:37.957 | 0.532 |
| 3 | 53 | Jamie GREEN |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 24 | 1:38.124 | 0.699 |
| 4 | 62 | Ferdinand VON HABSBURG | |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 24 | 1:38.136 | 0.711 |
| 5 | 33 | René RAST |  |
Audi Sport Team Rosberg | Audi RS5 DTM | 25 | 1:38.199 | 0.774 |
| 6 | 4 | Robin FRIJNS |  |
Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline | Audi RS5 DTM | 25 | 1:38.238 | 0.813 |
| 7 | 28 | Loïc DUVAL |  |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 21 | 1:38.289 | 0.864 |
| 8 | 11 | Marco WITTMANN | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 23 | 1:38.547 | 1.122 |
| 9 | 27 | Jonathan ABERDEIN |  |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 25 | 1:38.605 | 1.180 |
| 10 | 22 | Lucas AUER | |
BMW Team RMR | BMW M4 DTM | 21 | 1:38.635 | 1.210 |
| 11 | 99 | Mike ROCKENFELLER | |
Audi Sport Team Phoenix | Audi RS5 DTM | 22 | 1:38.795 | 1.370 |
| 12 | 16 | Timo GLOCK | |
BMW Team RMG | BMW M4 DTM | 25 | 1:38.876 | 1.451 |
| 13 | 31 | Sheldon VAN DER LINDE | |
BMW Team RBM | BMW M4 DTM | 25 | 1:38.914 | 1.489 |
| 14 | 10 | Harrison NEWEY | |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 25 | 1:39.221 | 1.796 |
| 15 | 8 | Robert KUBICA |  |
BMW Team ART | BMW M4 DTM | 22 | 1:39.489 | 2.064 |
| 16 | 13 | Fabio SCHERER | |
Audi Sport Team WRT | Audi RS5 DTM | 24 | 1:39.643 | 2.218 |