Defending driver world champion Briton Lewis Hamilton confirmed that McLaren Mercedes are back on form by clocking the fastest time in Friday afternoon’s second free practice for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
Earlier, his team-mate Finn Heikki Kovalainen had topped the times in the morning’s opening session. Kovalainen was second fastest in a McLaren one-two in the afternoon. AFP
Williams put in another solid practice performance as Nico Rosberg recorded the third fastest time with team-mate Kazuki Nakajima fifth quickest in the second practice session.
Red Bull’s championship-chasing duo Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel were fourth and sixth fastest respectively.
Brawn’s Ruben’s Barrichello was seventh while Toro Rosso’s Formula 1 debutant Jaime Alguersuari avoided any major incidents in 20th. BBC Sport
“(A top-three finish) is definitely possible but it’s going to be tough, for sure,” Hamilton said. “The talent is so tough here. We’re competitive but (we’re) a little bit off the pace still.”
Hungarian Grand Prix: Friday Practice Results
Hamilton said improved downforce and a change to the front wing and rear floor had “completely turned the car around.”
“All of us are looking at the market, it’s our job,” McLaren-Mercedes director Norbert Haug said.
Renault’s Fernando Alonso was 12th, while Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa also finished outside the top 10.
Massa said the Italians were struggling to find balance but that they expected the car to improve as the track does. They also tested some parts with their 2010 car in mind. The Canadian Press
All the talk ahead of practice had surrounded Alguersuari, who on Sunday will become the youngest to compete in Formula One at the age of 19 years 126 days.
The likes of Jenson Button, Hamilton, Mark Webber and Felipe Massa had all commented yesterday on the youngster, suggesting he could destroy his career and that he was too young to be competing at this level.
Certainly, the first couple of laps were a little like watching Bambi on ice as Alguersuari tentatively made his way around the 2.7-mile track on the outskirts of Budapest.
But as he slowly became accustomed to the feel of a Formula One car, so he naturally improved, with his first timed lap 1:34.716, and finishing the day with a 1:23.942 after 82 laps overall.
Alguersuari far from disgraced himself during the two 90-minute sessions, finishing 1.950secs behind Kovalainen at the end of the first and 1.863secs off Hamilton after the second. Telegraph.co.uk
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