Reborn Hamilton tops practice in Hungary

by Gordon Howard

Formula one BUDAPEST, Hungary, July 30 (AFP) - Lewis Hamilton picked up on Friday where he left off in Germany last Sunday by delivering the fastest times for McLaren in both opening free practice sessions ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 26-year-old Briton, who won the world title in 2008, clocked a best lap time of one minute and 21.018 seconds, to top the speed charts and endorse the impression that he has regained top form after winning last weekend’s race at the Nurburgring.

Hamilton wound up fastest ahead of two-times champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari with his McLaren team-mate Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, third fastest.

Having experienced near-humiliation last year when Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull won with an advantage of a second a lap, Hamilton relished his new-found speed.

“It’s a great feeling to start already on a high — it wasn’t really expected, (but) the climate is working for us, it’s not as hot as it usually is here,” he said.

“It’s too early to say what’s going to happen, but we can compete with the guys in the front. We do have a positive buzz in the team and that’s great.”

Button ready for 200th classic

Button, preparing for his 200th Grand Prix back at the track where he registered his first win in 2006, said: “It was a trouble-free day, which is nice. We’re definitely in the hunt so I’m very happy with the direction we’ve gone with the car and the feeling of the car.”

Australian Mark Webber was fourth quickest for Red Bull ahead of his team-mate, defending champion and runaway championship leader Vettel with Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari down in sixth.

Vettel, still downcast as he struggled to keep pace with the revived McLarens and Ferraris, warned his Red Bull team after the sessions that it was time they raised their game.

Vettel, a dominant winner of last year’s Hungarian race, but pushed down to fourth on the grid in Germany last Sunday, believes Red Bull need to take a step forward in order to stay at the top.

Very tight event – Vettel

He said: “It was pretty slippery at the beginning. Later on I felt ok in the car, but I think it is not like last year. It seems to be very tight. McLaren and Ferrari are very quick so I think we need to raise our game to make sure that we will find ourselves at the top as well.”

He conceded that tyre management will not be easy this weekend.