Lewis Hamilton stays on top in Hungarian GP practice
Lewis Hamilton continued to top the times ahead of his Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Nico Rosberg in Friday`s second free practice session for this weekend`s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Budapest: Lewis Hamilton continued to top the times ahead of his Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Nico Rosberg in Friday`s second free practice session for this weekend`s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old Briton, who is seeking to complete a hat-trick of wins and claim a record fifth victory at the Hungaroring to cut into Rosberg`s 14-points lead in the title race, clocked a best lap in one minute and 24.482 seconds.
This lifted him 0.238 seconds clear of the German, who seemed at a loss at times as to how he could claw back any of Hamilton`s apparent advantage on one of his favourite circuits.
Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel was third, six-tenths off the pace, in his Red Bull ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, who was nine-tenths adrift.
Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen continued his impressive progress with McLaren by clocking the fifth best time ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari, Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the second Red Bull and rising Finnish star Valtteri Bottas of Williams.
Jenson Button was ninth in the second McLaren and Felipe Massa 10th in the second Williams, having survived a lurid spin during the session.
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Lewis Hamilton took the early initiative when he topped the times as Mercedes dominated Friday morning`s opening free practice session for this weekend`s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old Briton clocked a best time of one minute and 25.814 seconds in clear, dry and hot conditions at the Hungaroring circuit, set in a rural bowl of farmland 25 kilometres north of the Hungarian capital.
His best lap left him 0.183 seconds clear of his teammate Nico Rosberg and 0.6 seconds clear of the rest of the field as the action began at the final race weekend before F1 heads to the beach for its now-traditional August holiday.
Hamilton is seeking to complete a hat-trick of Hungarian wins and claim a record fifth at the event to regain ground on championship leader Rosberg in the title race. The German leads by 14 points after winning last Sunday.
Kimi Raikkonen shrugged off his indifferent form this year on his return to one of his favourite circuits to finish third-fastest ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Fernando Alonso.
Defending four-time champion Sebastian Vettel was fifth for Red Bull ahead of Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen of McLaren, Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso, Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the second Red Bull and Jenson Button in the second McLaren.
Felipe Massa of Williams was down in 10th as he returned to action five days after being tipped upside down in an accident at the first corner of last Sunday`s German Grand Prix.
Raikkonen finished on the podium in his last five races at the Hungaroring and his form will be vital to help Ferrari avoid extending their dismal run and making 2014 their worst start to a season since 1986.
Ferrari have secured only one podium this year.
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