The Hindu : Sport / Racing : Motor : Hamilton is fastest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 02, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Racing : Motor

Hamilton is fastest

BUDAPEST: McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton continued a string of dominating performances by leading Friday’s practice sessions for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Formula One championship leader, who is coming off victories at the British and German GPs, led the 20-car field with a best lap time of 1 minute, 20.554 seconds across two 90-minute sessions on the 4.381-km Hungaroring track.

Renault’s Nelson Piquet Jr. followed up his first podium at Hockenheim with the day’s second fastest lap of 1:20.748 before skidding off the track to end his day.

Hamilton’s teammate Heikki Kovalainen was about two-tenths of a second behind Hamilton in third, ahead of two-time World champion Fernando Alonso of Renault.

Ferrari continued its recent struggles, with Felipe Massa and defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen nearly half a second slower than Hamilton in the afternoon.

Massa clocked the day’s fifth quickest lap of 1:20.981, while Raikkonen failed to get below the 1:21.00 mark to sit sixth.

Hamilton leads Massa by four points and Raikkonen by seven in the drivers’ standings.

BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica, who managed a best time of 1:21.363, is 10 points behind Hamilton. — AP

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport