Hungarian Grand Prix: Vettel tops second practice

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, a four times world champion provided a reminder of the talents that won him four drivers' world titles, on Friday, when he topped the times for Ferrari in a wet second practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The German driver, who is looking for a new team for 2021 after being told he will be surplus to Ferrari’s needs, clocked a best lap in one minute and 40.464 seconds to outpace nearest rival and championship leader Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes by 0.272s.

Eralier, six times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton started his bid for an eighth Hungarian Grand Prix victory with the fastest lap in first practice before afternoon rain slowed everybody down.

The Briton led team mate Valtteri Bottas in a dominant Mercedes one-two in the first session at the Hungaroring, but did not set a time in the soggy later one after attempting an installation lap.

The Briton’s best lap of the day in one minute 16.003 seconds at the twisty track was 0.086 quicker than championship leader Bottas, despite being on harder tyres than the Finn.

“It was a great first session, got everything we needed to do,” said Hamilton, who hoped for a dry race on Sunday.

“It’s a shame that it’s rained today. It’s strange to think that we’re in summer yet faced with this weather the last two weekends. It didn’t really leave a lot for us to do in that session.

“We got through what we needed to get through, it was feeling OK.”