Lewis Hamilton got his Hungarian Grand Prix weekend off to the best possible start by topping the order in opening practice on Friday.
The defending champion, bidding to make history this weekend by becoming the first driver to win on five occasions in Hungary, posted a best lap of one minute and 21.347 seconds to lead the way ahead of his Mercedes-GP teammate Nico Rosberg.
Rosberg, who put pen-to-paper on a new two-year deal with Mercedes on Thursday night to extend his tenure with Formula One's all-conquering team until the end of 2018, was a quarter-of-a-second shy of Hamilton's best lap.
While Hamilton has won here on four previous occasions, Rosberg is yet to in Hungary. Indeed in his 10 previous races at one of the sport’s best-known venues, he has not even managed a podium finish.
See also:
• 'Signed, sealed, delivered': Nico Rosberg signs new Mercedes-GP deal
• Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg look to stay out of each others' way
• Lewis Hamilton wants to carry 'those positive vibes' from British Grand Prix win
• Graham Caygill: Max Verstappen's pace is a test of character for Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo
But the German said on Thursday that he is not feeling the pressure of Hamilton’s championship charge, despite his lead evaporating from 43 points to just one ahead of Sunday’s race.
Heading into the 11th round of the championship – the penultimate grand prix before Formula One's summer break – Mercedes had warned that the low-speed nature of the Hungaroring would suit Red Bull.
But Hamilton and Rosberg were in ominous form on Friday, over one second clear of their rivals, with the Ferrari pair of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen third and fourth in the order. Daniel Ricciardo was fifth, nearly two seconds adrift of Hamilton, with his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen sixth.
The Hungaroring has been resurfaced ahead of its 31st consecutive annual race, and several drivers fell foul to the naturally slippery conditions. None more so than Fernando Alonso, who spun twice in his McLaren, while Hamilton, Jenson Button, who finished the opening 90-minute session in eighth, and Raikkonen were other high-profile casualties to take unscheduled trips off the track.
British rookie Jolyon Palmer claimed on Thursday that Sunday’s race would provide his best opportunity of opening his points-scoring tally. But a technical issue with his Renault restricted the Englishman to just six laps, and he ended the session at the foot of the order, more than seven seconds adrift of Hamilton’s quickest time.
Alonso, despite his hairy moments, finished seventh, with Haas driver Romain Grosjean and the Force India of Sergio Perez rounding out the top 10.
Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix first free practice times in Budapest on Friday:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1min 21.347sec
2. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:21.584
3. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:22.991
4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:23.082
5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull 1:23.174
6. Max Verstappen (NED) Red Bull 1:23.457
7. Fernando Alonso (ESP) McLaren 1:23.935
8. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 1:23.961
9. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Haas 1:24.013
10. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:24.073
11. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) Force India 1:24.120
12. Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams 1:24.154
13. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1:24.370
14. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Toro Rosso 1:24.579
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE) Sauber 1:24.981
16. Charles Leclerc (MON) Haas 1:25.181
17. Felipe Nasr (BRA) Sauber 1:25.256
18. Estéban Ocon (FRA) Renault 1:25.260
19. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Toro Rosso 1:25.324
20. Rio Haryanto (INA) Manor 1:27.012
21. Pascal Wehrlein (GER) Manor 1:27.249
22. Jolyon Palmer (GBR) Renault 1:28.560
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