Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg during the second practice session for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring racetrack in Budapest on Friday. (Photo: AP)
Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg during the second practice session for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring racetrack in Budapest on Friday. (Photo: AP)
Lewis Hamilton crashed enabling Nico Rosberg to take advantage and top the times for Mercedes in Friday’s second free practice for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 31-year-old German clocked a best lap in one minute and 20.435 seconds on a busy day at the Hungaroring.
This was enough to see him wind up half a second faster than nearest rival Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull and nine-tenths clear of third-placed four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.
Dutch teenager Max Verstappen was fourth fastest in the second Red Bull and Hamilton fifth, even though he did not run on the super-soft tyres during his brief 14 minutes on track at the start of the 90-minutes session.
The defending three-time champion lost control of the back end of his car out of Turn 11 on the tight and twisty track and hit the barriers side-on.
He was able to re-start and drive gingerly back to the pits, but after an inspection the team decided to strip his car down.
Hamilton, who was unhurt, visited the medical centre for a check-up before returning to the Mercedes garage. He was fastest at the time of his accident, but had done only four laps.
Kimi Raikkonen was sixth for Ferrari ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and his McLaren team-mate 2009 champion Jenson Button.
Nico Hulkenberg was ninth ahead of his team-mate Mexican Sergio Perez.
Hamilton, one point shy of Rosberg in the championship, is seeking a record fifth win and a current hat-trick of straight wins in Hungary.
Nico extends Merc contract Rosberg on Friday signed a new two year deal with Mercedes, the contract extending his sparky relationship with Hamilton until 2018.
The Formula One world champions posted a video of Rosberg and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff signing the new contract.