Hamilton only fifth; Palmer crashes out; McLarens in top ten again
Monday 31 July 2017 11:29, UK
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo completed a Friday double as he topped the timesheets in Practice Two for the Hungarian GP, further fuelling hopes of a three-team fight in Budapest this weekend.
The former world champions have introduced a substantial upgrade package for this weekend's race at the Hungaroring - a circuit which is expected to suit their package.
Practice One: Ricciardo fastest in upgraded Red Bull
Ricciardo's fastest lap of 1:18.455 was two tenths of a second faster than the best of world championship leader Sebastian Vettel.
"You don't know what Ferrari and Mercedes are going to come up with and it looked like Ferrari found a bit more pace this afternoon but we're still ahead. We'll see tomorrow, but definitely a positive day," said Ricciardo.
Lewis Hamilton was only fifth quickest, behind Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen, after failing to complete a lap on the supersofts, the fastest compound Pirelli have brought to Budapest this weekend.
However, Hamilton, who had predicted at the start of the weekend that Red Bull could join the fight with Ferrari and Mercedes, set the fastest time on soft tyres in Practice Two's early running.
"I think it looks very close. It's always difficult what to expect and Friday is always a different story but I think overall it should be quite close so it should be good fun," added Vettel.
But the pressure on Jolyon Palmer, yet to score a point this term and under uncomfortable scrutiny ahead of Robert Kubica's comeback drive in next week's Budapest test, will intensity further after the Englishman crashed out in spectacular but car-ruinous fashion.
Having wrecked his front-wing to bring Practice One to an early close, the Renault driver lost control of his car at the final corner midway through Practice Two and slammed into the barriers.
Just moments before, Sauber's Pascal Wehrlein also hit the barriers at Turn Eleven. The young German described his crash as "massive" over team radio and was subsequently taken to the medical centre for a check-up.
Both McLarens were in the top ten, as they were in Practice One, heightening hopes that the team, currently bottom of the Constructors' Championship, will enjoy some overdue respectability at a circuit that ought to disguise the weakness of their Honda engines.
Can Red Bull make it a three-way fight?
Analysis from Sky F1's Anthony Davidson...
"Red Bull were looking comfortable before coming here and now they have the upgrade as well. This was always going to be their track with less emphasis on power. Despite the fact that Mercedes and Ferrari can turn up the wick in qualifying, they must surely think they can be in the fight.
"The Ferrari looked good today, maybe not as good as the Red Bull, but I would say it was at least on par with the Mercedes in terms of balance - and the lap times reflected that. Vettel has reason to be upbeat."
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