Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo

Hungarian Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo dominates practice


Daniel Ricciardo continued his bid for a second win of the season as he went fastest in both practice sessions in Hungary.

Click here for our full Hungarian GP guide and betting tips

Second Practice: Top three


1 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:18.455
2 Sebastian Vettel (Gbr) Ferrari 1:18.638
3 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:18.656 

Second Practice: Report


Daniel Ricciardo cemented his status as a real contender for the Hungarian Grand Prix after he completed a surprise practice double on Friday.

Ricciardo's Red Bull team have a number of updates on their car at the Hungaroring for the final round of the championship before the sport's now-traditional four-week summer break.

And the early signs appeared promising for the former world champions after Ricciardo, a winner at last month's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, soared to the top of the time sheets in both sessions.

Ricciardo finished 0.183 seconds clear of championship leader Sebastian Vettel while Lewis Hamilton, who trails the German by a single point in this year's title race, was only fifth.

Hamilton however, who is bidding to equal Michael Schumacher's all-time pole record, failed to set a competitive time on the supersoft tyre - the fastest of the compounds available this weekend, and was only three-tenths shy of Ricciardo's best effort.

Hamilton's Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas was third in the order with Kimi Raikkonen fourth and Max Verstappen sixth. The top six cars, meanwhile, were separated by less than half-a-second to set up what could prove to be a nail-biting qualifying session on Saturday.

British driver Jolyon Palmer is in desperate need of a strong weekend after his so-far pointless opening half of the year.

But the under-fire Englishman had little cause to celebrate on Friday after damaging his Renault in opening practice, and then encountering further problems during the day's second running.

Palmer first broke his front wing in the closing moments of the 90-minute session after he ran off the circuit and over the kerbs at Turn Four. He returned to the circuit in the afternoon, but lost control of his Renault on the exit of the final corner and thudded backwards into the barriers.

The red flags were deployed, and Palmer was left with a lonely walk back to the Renault garage to explain his latest error.

Palmer was not the only driver in the wars after Pascal Wehrlein crashed his Sauber at Turn 11. "I crashed, massive," Wehrlein said.

The German walked away from the incident, but was taken to the medical centre for a precautionary check-up before he was given the all-clear.

Palmer's team-mate Nico Hulkenberg was seventh in the order ahead of McLaren's Fernando Alonso. Alonso has finished only two races this year, but the Hungaroring - a circuit which is not overly reliant on power - is expected to represent McLaren's best opportunity of a strong points finish.

The British team are currently rooted to the foot of the constructors' championship with just two points to their name this term.

Second Practice: Times


1 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:18.455
2 Sebastian Vettel (Gbr) Ferrari 1:18.638
3 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:18.656
4 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:18.755
5 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:18.779
6 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:18.951
7 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:19.714
8 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:19.815
9 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:19.834
10 Stoffel Vandoorne (Bel) McLaren 1:19.909
11 Esteban Ocon (Fra) Force India 1:20.126
12 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:20.266
13 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:20.577
14 Lance Stroll (Can) Williams 1:20.791
15 Felipe Massa (Bra) Williams 1:20.869
16 Jolyon Palmer (Gbr) Renault 1:21.175
17 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:21.345
18 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:21.504
19 Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:21.559
20 Pascal Wehrlein (Ger) Sauber-Ferrari 1:21.722

Related links


Hungarian Grand Prix lowdown
F1 dates, results and standings   

Like what you've read?

MOST READ

Sporting Life
Join for free!
Access to exclusive features all for FREE - No monthly subscription fee
Race Replays
My stable horse tracker
giftOffers and prize draws
newsExclusive content
We are committed to Safer Gambling and have a number of self-help tools to help you manage your gambling. We also work with a number of independent charitable organisations who can offer help and answers any questions you may have.
Gamble Aware LogoGamble Helpline LogoGamstop LogoGordon Moody LogoSafer Gambling Standard LogoGamban Logo18+ LogoTake Time To Think Logo