Kovalainen quickest in first Hungary practice

Budapest: Last year`s race winner Heikki Kovalainen highlighted struggling McLaren`s improved pace with the fastest time in opening Hungarian Grand Prix practice.The Finn, whose only career victory came at the Hungaroring last August, put in a best lap of one minute 22.278 seconds right at the end of the session at the tight and twisty circuit near Budapest.

With clear skies and temperatures of around 26 Celsius, McLaren`s new aerodynamic package immediately looked competitive. Their world champion Lewis Hamilton was third fastest, behind Williams` Nico Rosberg, as the team prepared to fight for a race that could bring the former champions their first podium of the season. "What a podium result would do for this team, you can`t imagine how good the feeling would be," Hamilton had said on his arrival at the circuit. "Even though we`ve had podiums for our whole two years (at the team) this would feel very special." Alguersuari Debut Championship leader Jenson Button, who had said on Thursday that there could be no excuses after two disappointing races in colder temperatures, recorded the 10th quickest time in his Brawn. "It`s supposed to be warm this weekend, so we should get the tyres to work," he had said. "We also have some updates that will move us forward a good chunk... I`m happy with the step forwards and hopefully it`ll be enough to challenge the Red Bulls and make it more exciting." All eyes were on 19-year-old Spaniard Jaime Alguersuari in the opening minutes as he made his grand prix debut with Toro Rosso on an otherwise deserted track. With some newspaper headlines asking whether the teenager was the most dangerous man in Formula One, having never driven a grand prix car around a circuit for anything more than a demonstration run, he acquitted himself well. Starting slowly, the man who will be Formula One`s youngest ever starter steadily lowered his times before ending the session with 42 laps and more than half a race distance under his belt. He was the slowest driver on the track, with a time of 1:24.228, but not by much. Swiss rookie team mate Sebastien Buemi was only 0.230 quicker. Australian Mark Webber, who took his first win in 130 starts at the previous German Grand Prix, was fourth fastest for Red Bull. His team mate Sebastian Vettel, second in the championship, was 15th. Bureau Report