Lewis Hamilton fastest in Hungarian Grand Prix practice
Page last updated at 09:46 GMT, Friday, 29 July 2011 10:46 UK
By Sarah Holt
BBC Sport
Hamilton is searching for his first pole position of the season in 2011
McLaren's Lewis Hamilton led practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix to suggest he could continue his good form after winning the last race in Germany.
Hamilton beat Red Bull's world champion Sebastian Vettel by 0.214 seconds with Fernando Alonso third for Ferrari and Mark Webber's Red Bull fourth.
Jenson Button was fifth for McLaren ahead of Felipe Massa's Ferrari.
Alonso's session was interrupted by a fire, while Webber damaged the front of his Red Bull in a crash.
After Hamilton won a thrilling battle between McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull at the last race in Germany, the teams were anticipating another close fight at the Hungaroring.
The top five drivers were covered by less than half a second in first practice to suggest Red Bull may not be able to walk away with the race as they did last year.
"Maybe that's a sign of things to come," said BBC Radio 5 live analyst Anthony Davidson. "I hope it ends as close as this on Sunday afternoon but I still expect Red Bull to have some sort of advantage.
Webber lost his front wing and suffered a puncture when he crashed
"Hamilton is enjoying riding the wave of last week's performance. That's what you need, carrying that confidence and speed."
It was a straightforward session for Hamilton who set a fastest time of one minute 23.350 seconds to lead the field.
Vettel, who finished off the podium for the first time this season in Germany, avoided questions about what went wrong at the Nurburgring and instead insisted he would return to the top in Hungary.
The world champion drove with a bandaged right hand - BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter Jennie Gow reported that is was "nothing major" - and was Hamilton's closest challenger.
His Red Bull team-mate Webber lost time at the end of the session after crashing heavily into the barriers at Turn Nine.
The Australian trundled back to the pits with a puncture and without his front wing, and finished 0.316secs off Hamilton's leading time.
Alonso, who was celebrating his 30th birthday on Friday, finished the session 0.292secs off the pace.
The Spaniard had a heated start to his session as a small fire from the rear of his Ferrari had to be extinguished.
LAST FIVE HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull)
2009 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2008 - Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren)
2007 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2006 - Jenson Button (Honda)
Alonso was running with "flow-viz" paint smeared across the back of the car as Ferrari stuck to their usual programme of testing new parts during first practice, including some modifications to the front wing.
The circuit just outside Budapest is a mighty challenge for the Formula 1 field to get their teeth into before the August vacation.
The Hungaroring is comparable with Monaco's street circuit and its low-speed, high-downforce nature can make it tricky for drivers to get into a rhythm.
Scot Paul di Resta, who is looking to win his first points since the Malaysia GP, was 12th fastest for Force India.
Meanwhile, Bruno Senna, nephew of late three-time world champion Ayrton, drove the Renault car for the first time since February in place of Nick Heidfeld.
Senna wants to secure a drive for 2012 and he was 0.762secs off team-mate Vitaly Petrov in 15th.
Credit: BBC (www.bbc.co.uk)
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