Bottas the strongest in practice for Hungary Grand Prix

Sports Desk, Jul 30 (EFE).- Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) bested teammate Lewis Hamilton and current championship leader Max Verstappen (Red Bull) in the second of Friday’s two practice sessions for the Formula One Grand Prix of Hungary.

Bottas, who likened the heat at the Hungaroring to that inside a sauna in his native Finland, made it around the track in 1:17.012, just 0.027 faster than seven-time British F1 champion Hamilton.

Verstappen, who finished first in Free Practice 1, had to settle for third in FP2. The Dutchman complained about his car’s handling over team radio during the session.

France’s Esteban Ocon (Alpine) was fourth, followed by Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Sergio “Checo” Perez, and another French driver, Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri).

Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Alpine), a two-time F1 champion, took the seventh spot in FP2 a day after celebrating his 40th birthday.

Eighth place went to Germany’s Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), winner of the driver’s championship on four occasions.

Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) and Canada’s Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) completed the top 10.

The drivers will get a third practice session on Saturday ahead of qualifying for the 11th event of a planned 23-race season.

Verstappen, victorious in five of the first 10 races, leads Hamilton – with four wins – by 8 points in the driver standings. EFE

arh/dr