Hungarian Grand Prix: Sebastian Vettel dominates practice

Third Practice: Top three

1 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1min 17.017secs
2 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:17.492
3 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:17.914 

Third Practice: Report

Lewis Hamilton would appear to have his work cut out to equal Michael Schumacher's pole record after finishing a distant fifth in final practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix. 

Hamilton, who will have his first chance of matching Schumacher's tally of 68 in qualifying at the Hungaroring later on Saturday, was 1.4 seconds slower than his title rival Sebastian Vettel, who is Sky Bet's even-money favourite to take top spot on Sunday.

Indeed Vettel, one point ahead of Hamilton in the championship standings, soared to the top of the time sheets with the fastest lap ever recorded here.

The Ferrari driver's impressive time of one minute and 17.017 seconds saw him finish nearly half-a-second clear of his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen with Valtteri Bottas third in the order.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was fourth, while his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who completed a surprise practice double yesterday, stopped on track midway through the session with a mechanical issue.

Felipe Massa was given the all-clear by the FIA to continue his participation here after he was taken to hospital on Friday night following complaints of dizziness.

But the 36-year-old Brazilian had to cut short his run this morning after falling unwell again, and will face a further medical examination before qualifying.

British driver Paul di Resta, who last raced in Formula One back in 2013, is on standby to replace Massa should he be unable to continue.

Stoffel Vandoorne was sixth fastest for McLaren ahead of Renault's Nico Hulkenberg, who will serve a five-place grid penalty following a gearbox change.

Ricciardo was eighth, with Fernando Alonso ninth and Britain's Jolyon Palmer rounding out the top 10.

Third Practice: Times

1 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1min 17.017secs
2 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:17.492
3 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:17.914
4 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:18.194
5 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:18.434
6 Stoffel Vandoorne (Bel) McLaren 1:18.638
7 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:18.699
8 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:18.714
9 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:18.884
10 Jolyon Palmer (Gbr) Renault 1:18.956
11 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:19.300
12 Esteban Ocon (Fra) Force India 1:19.352
13 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:19.455
14 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:19.609
15 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:19.622
16 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:19.895
17 Felipe Massa (Bra) Williams 1:20.255
18 Lance Stroll (Can) Williams 1:20.379
19 Pascal Wehrlein (Ger) Sauber-Ferrari 1:20.446
20 Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:20.748

Related links

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Hungarian Grand Prix lowdown
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