McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton continued a string of dominating performances by leading yesterday’s practice sessions for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Formula One championship leader, who is coming off victories at the British and German GPs, led the 20-car field with a best lap time of 1 minute, 20.554 seconds across two 90-minute sessions on the 4.381-kilometer (2.722-mile) Hungaroring track.
Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr. followed up his first podium at Hockenheim with the day’s second fastest lap of 1:20.748 before skidding off the track to end his day.
Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen, who announced yesterday that he will remain at the British team next season, was about two-tenths of a second behind Hamilton in third, ahead of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso of Renault.
Ferrari continued its recent struggles, with Felipe Massa and defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen nearly half a second slower than Hamilton in the afternoon. Massa clocked the day's fifth quickest lap of 1:20.981, while Raikkonen failed to get below the 1:21.00 mark to sit sixth.
Hamilton leads Massa by four points and Raikkonen by seven in the drivers’ standings. BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica, who managed a best time of 1:21.363, is 10 points behind Hamilton.
The 23-year-old Hamilton could become the first Briton since Damon Hill 12 years ago to win three straight GPs.
Ferrari will be looking for answers ahead of today’s qualifying as it looks to rebound from a series of disappointing results and halt McLaren’s recent momentum, which has seen it narrow the Italians’ lead in the constructors’ standings to 19 points. Ferrari has generally performed well on hotter tracks this season, with the Hungarian GP notable for its humid weather.
Timo Glock returned from a high-speed crash to steer his Toyota to a best lap time of 1:21.662. Governing body FIA deemed the German driver fit for yesterday’s practice following an accident at the preceding German GP that left Glock in a hospital overnight.
Practice wraps up today morning before a qualifying session to determine the starting order for tomorrow’s race.