Ricciardo fastest in Hungarian F1 practice

Australian Red Bull Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo has topped the timesheets in the opening practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Red Bull Racing driver Daniel Ricciardo

Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo has topped the first practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix. (AAP)

Australian Daniel Ricciardo reminded Formula One's title contenders that he and Red Bull remain a force to reckon with after posting the fastest time in opening Hungarian Grand Prix practice on Friday.

Fourth in the championship standings but 60 points behind Ferrari's leader Sebastian Vettel at the mid-point in the season, the Perth driver clocked a best time of one minute 18.486 seconds.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen was second fastest, 0.234 slower on the same super-soft tyres, at a circuit that ranks almost as a home venue for the Finn.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, a point behind Vettel in the standings and chasing a record sixth Hungarian victory on Sunday, made it three teams in the top three with a lap 0.372 off Ricciardo's pace.

Vettel was more than a second slower than Ricciardo in sixth place on a warm but cloudy morning at the Hungaroring outside Budapest.

"Struggling a lot with oversteer and rear tyres didn't seem to be ready," the German said over the team radio.

Ricciardo's Dutch team mate Max Verstappen was fourth with Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas fifth.

Red Bull have brought important aerodynamic updates to Hungary, a track that has suited them in the past, and are hoping to be closer to Ferrari and champions Mercedes.

"It's all aero stuff, but hopefully it all works together and gives us the laptime we desire. It's a combination of things," Ricciardo, winner in Hungary in 2014, had told reporters on Thursday.

"On the wind tunnel it looks like it should help downforce and hopefully that gives us the lap time."

There were encouraging signs at struggling former champions McLaren, who had Fernando Alonso seventh and Belgian team mate Stoffel Vandoorne eighth at the slowest permanent track on the calendar.


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Source: AAP



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