Ricciardo on top in Hungary practice

Daniel Ricciardo has ended the opening day of running on top of both practice sessions at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Ricciardo set the fastest lap in first practice, the Red Bull sporting a host of development parts including a new floor and rear wing.

The Australian put the parts to good use, recording a time only fractionally outside of the fastest lap ever recorded at the Hungaroring.

It marked the first time since 2016 that Ricciardo has topped any session, while team-mate Max Verstappen was fourth best to demonstrate Red Bull’s pace.

Ricciardo backed up that effort in the second session, holding on to top spot despite the threat posed by rivals as they worked their way through qualifying-simulations during the session.

It was not a straight forward day, however, with a number of red flags interrupting team’s programs.

Two red flags punctuated each session, the final red flag in Practice 2 when Jolyon Palmer crashed out halting the team’s mid-qualifying run.

The first red flag of the day was shown when Antonio Giovanazzi, substituting in Practice 1 for Kevin Magnussen, lost control at Turn 9 midway through the session.

The Haas suffered heavy damage to the left-hand side, which kept Magnussen in the garage at the start of Practice 2 before he set the 17th fastest time.

A similar incident befell Pascal Wehrlein in the Sauber, who lost control at Turn 11 before colliding with the tyre barrier on the outside of the corner.

The Sauber initially made contact with the left side of the car, before being spun around and coming to a rest with the left side of the car in the tyre barrier.

Palmer also struck trouble, running wide at Turn 4 and tearing the front wing off his Renault in the final moments of opening practice.

There was also damage to the floor, forcing the Englishman to sit out the opening minutes of the second session as the team worked to repair the car.

His day didn’t improve, spinning out of second practice at the final corner, damaging the right rear wheel of the Renault who drew the red flag.

Behind Ricciardo, both Ferrari and Mercedes were closely matched suggesting a three-way battle with Red Bull heading into qualifying tomorrow.

Lewis Hamilton was third fastest in opening practice, a tenth slower than Kimi Raikkonen who put Ferrari second best, though still 0.2s off Ricciardo.

In second practice it was Sebastian Vettel who was second fastest ahead of Valtteri Bottas while Verstappen ended the day in sixth best.

Result: Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix Practice 2

Result: Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix Practice 1