Hungarian GP 2012

JULY 27, 2012

Practice 1 Report - McLaren looking good

Lewis Hamilton, Hungarian GP 2012
© The Cahier Archive

Lewis Hamilton (1:22.821) and Jenson Button (1:22.922) reinforced the promise Mclaren showed in Hockenheim when they topped the first session of free practice for Sunday's Hungarian GP.

Fernando Alonso's Ferrari (1:23.397) was next quickest, the Spaniard lamenting that frequent Hungaroring bugbear -- traffic.

Nico Rosberg's Mercedes (1:23.628) was fourth, separated from team mate Michael Schumacher (1:23.845) by Romain Grosjean's Lotus (1:23.633). As the Frenchman confirmed on Thursday, team mate Kimi Raikkonen's car was the only one fitted with the new 'double DRS' system to give the team an opportunity to back-to-back test the development.

"I had the new wing first and so it was Kimi's turn to have this," Grosjean said. The Finn finished the opening session eighth, 0.35s adrift.

Felipe Massa's Ferrari (1:23.904 was seventh quickest, with an impressive Valtteri Bottas (1:24.152) getting the first Williams into the top 10, which was completed by Sergio Perez's Sauber (1:24.268). Bottas lapped 0.15s quicker than Spanish GP winner Pastor Maldonado (1:24.300) in the other FW34.

Although it's unlikely to have anything to do with engine mapping (!) neither Red Bull figured in the opening session top 10, with Mark Webber (1:24.546) 13th and Sebastian Vettel (1:24.608) 15th.

Friday programmes are infinitely varied and a better picture will be gleaned from longer runs in the afternoon session once the track rubbers in.