Red Bull remained the team to beat in the second practice session at the Hungaroring as their drivers headed the times again.
Sebastian Vettel pipped Mark Webber to the top time by less than five-hundredths of a second. Worryingly for their opponents, the two RB9s set their times early in the session while the track was still improving.
The closest of their rivals was Romain Grosjean, who lapped within 0.153s of Vettel’s time on his second run on soft tyres. Grosjean ran wide during his first effort having gone fastest in the middle sector.
Kimi Raikkonen might have been closer but all three of his runs on the soft tyre were spoiled by traffic. He caught Jenson Button in the final sector on one run, almost touching the McLaren as they went through the final corner.
The Ferrari pair took fourth and fifth ahead of the two Mercedes drivers. Raikkonen was eighth ahead of Button, with Adrian Sutil tenth.
Valtteri Bottas was called into the pits shortly before the end of practice with a KERS problem. Max Chilton was back in his Marussia after Rodolfo Gonzalez took his place in first practice, and had to pit due to a problem with his helmet which caused buffeting.
2013 Hungarian Grand Prix
- Hamilton takes second Driver of the Weekend win
- Hungarian GP rated among top three races so far
- 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix team radio transcript
- Why the Hungarian Grand Prix is a must-see race
- 2013 Hungarian Grand Prix fans’ video gallery
Image © Red Bull/Getty
Chris (@tophercheese21)
26th July 2013, 14:36
Wow.
Red Bull just gave a big middle finger to the rest of the teams on that one.
Their long run pace was scary good.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
26th July 2013, 16:49
Pole’s still looking to be like it could be fairly open between Red Bull, Mercedes and possibly even Lotus but yes that long run pace looked ominous – consistently a second faster than everybody.
Eggry (@eggry)
26th July 2013, 14:41
Nooooooo
Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
26th July 2013, 14:42
Sorry mate, vettel win be WC this year.
Force Maikel (@force-maikel)
26th July 2013, 14:46
It looks like it is in the bag and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets it but 34 points is not enough to convince me enough.
Chris (@tophercheese21)
26th July 2013, 14:48
We all thought Fernando had it in the bag this time last year.
rajaaryan
26th July 2013, 14:56
are u kidding me ,many thought alonso would win 2012 but the sheer pace of redbull car and not winning in asia put alonso in the back seat .the only way is that all the teams pay adrean newey to stay away from f1 .that would make many things interesting .ferrari sucks with domenicelli .their strategy in germany was plane lame .not only did they lost the qualifying but it dnt help them with the pit stop strategy .i guess alonso should move out of ferrari as soon as possible
Chris (@tophercheese21)
26th July 2013, 15:01
@rajaaryan
Fernando Alonso went into the Hungarian GP last year with over a 40 point lead in the WDC.
The Ferrari had better race pace than the Redbull and Alonso was driving masterfully.
This year, Vettel has a 34 point lead. Which is a convincing lead but its far from certain championship glory.
Hamilfan (@hamilfan)
26th July 2013, 18:05
Let me explain : Red bull is the cheetah . Ferrari is the dog . Last year the dog got a huge head start on the cheetah but the cheetah still won . This year the cheetah has a marginal lead over the dog ………
geekracer2000 (@geekracer2000)
26th July 2013, 19:31
Why would cheetah run away from the dog? :-)
zimkazimka (@zimkazimka)
26th July 2013, 20:07
it’s not running away from the dog, but rather towards the prey. which is obviously the cup.
Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
26th July 2013, 14:48
I think something pretty special will have to happen, like when Schumacher broke his leg.
Traverse (@)
26th July 2013, 14:56
The Vet is immune to leg breakages, for you see, his legs are comprised of a rarefied steel that doesn’t break…well, that’s what Helmut Marko told me anyway.
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
26th July 2013, 16:32
@full-throttle-f1 why not go one step further and kill him?
Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
26th July 2013, 14:41
Lol I find this funny
“We are going to be strong – lotus” lotus don’t take pole
“We have improved massively – mercedes” Mercedes don’t take pole
Traverse (@)
26th July 2013, 14:49
Red Bull Keep schtum – Look like their going to blitz the field!
That being said It’s early doors, I still expect Ham to pull pole out the bag.
JCost (@jcost)
26th July 2013, 15:06
I think Mercedes was not trying to assess their pole pace. I think they were doing what other people did at YDT because they know they will be up there tomorrow afternoon, they problem is another one, not pole.
Poul Winther (@poul)
26th July 2013, 15:28
Hmm…. maybe your comment is a bit funny too. I seem to remember that poles are determined on Saturdays. But who knows….. who knows…..
rajaaryan
26th July 2013, 14:43
why am i not surprised .someone should fire stefano dominecelli so that ferrari could come back to its winning ways .this season is so boring,it only about vettel ,vettel and more vettel anyways vettel would win this thing with ease . win in hungary and this years championship is in the bag for redbull. massa of new use ,i guess kimi should move to redbull so we canget things interesting for next year
Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
26th July 2013, 14:45
Plus 1
rajaaryan
26th July 2013, 14:50
sorry massa is of no use *
tmax (@tmax)
26th July 2013, 16:05
Ferrari needs an Overhaul like they did in 1996. There is a lot of talking and very less results from their side for the last few years. When did we last hear that the Ferrari was Fast ?????? Fast and Ferrari has become Oxymoron today. is’nt that an Irony ?
Well as far as Mclaren are concerned, they too are running a B Team. They need to make themselves into a complete A Team. Maybe Get Ron back to start with :)
zimkazimka (@zimkazimka)
26th July 2013, 20:10
i thought this season was about mercedes secret test.
Jason (@jason12)
27th July 2013, 9:52
You know how people love over-reacting
Force Maikel (@force-maikel)
26th July 2013, 14:43
Like I said one f1 fanatic live, it is now red bulls weekend to lose. I think Red Bull is enjoying these new tyres far better then other teams, going as far as dominating in extreme hot conditions. Something that Lotus has loved and favored Ferrari on occasions.
Perhaps Mercedes falling back in the que is favoring qualifying position for the two mentioned above. If it does it should help Alonso a bit. He needs a super start to jump the Bulls.
Johnny Herbert put it like this and I agree: Red Bull, Ferrari and Lotus have the best ballence around here.
sushant008 (@sushant008)
26th July 2013, 14:47
I am sure 90% of the people are voting VET for pole n win in the prediction championship..:/
karter22 (@karter22)
26th July 2013, 14:50
I said it in the fp1 thread…. it´s game over. RBR and SV have got this in the bag. I hope Byrne comes up with something good for 2014, maybe Ferrari can return to it´s winning ways. There is just so much ALO can do with a car, he´s great but not a miracle worker (not always).
Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
26th July 2013, 14:51
Hey guys, if found this thing called history, using it I can look back through time. This might shock you so I’ve warned you, before 2010 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WON THE WDC!!!!!!!!, I know :-)
Mike Dee (@mike-dee)
26th July 2013, 14:57
What do you mean, “different people”? You mean different helmets, right? Otherwise I don’t understand what you mean with “different”!
Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
26th July 2013, 14:58
Lol
brny666
26th July 2013, 15:02
different helmets still win the WDC/ have done so for the last 3 years…
Glenn (@glennb)
26th July 2013, 16:51
Thanks for that. I checked but it was just a *different* German that was winning is all. You had me excited for a minute there ;)
Saints (@saints)
26th July 2013, 14:57
I’m still expecting Lewis to take pole. This is just practice guys.
JCost (@jcost)
26th July 2013, 15:18
Indeed.
jpowell (@jpowell)
26th July 2013, 14:59
Great to see Red Bull in such strong form,hopefully the likes of Hamilton will not disturb the proceeding by taking an ill deserved pole making Seb have to drive to fast on the first lap to regain his rightfull position. Should be a great race my eyes are closing already.
Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
26th July 2013, 15:02
Rightful position? He’s been at the top for quite a few races now lol
Mike Dee (@mike-dee)
26th July 2013, 15:07
Rightful position = 20 seconds ahead and managing!
Lucas Wilson (@full-throttle-f1)
26th July 2013, 15:09
Rightful position = at the back and broken down looool
Ivan B (@njoydesign)
26th July 2013, 22:01
love your sarcasm)))
tmax (@tmax)
26th July 2013, 15:06
Well.. there is a Lot of Pressure on Red Bull & Vettel Now.
1) They have not conquered Hungaroring Yet
2) They need to win the US GP this year.
That is a lot of pressure on a Young Team and a Young Driver LOL !!!!
Timothy Katz (@timothykatz)
26th July 2013, 15:13
Oh dear. I watched some of FP2, but actually fell asleep. And now that I’ve read your full report Keith, I’m not sure I missed much.
It does look as though the race will be for third place on Sunday. Another Red Bull whitewash at this dismal track, perhaps. I am really hoping for an exciting, dramatic overturning of the established order to cheer me up in the four weeks between Hungary and Belgium.
wsrgo (@wsrgo)
26th July 2013, 15:20
@timothykatz Could be a race for 2nd too. This track has a notoriously dirty ‘even’ side of the track, and Webber isn’t famed for his fast starts..
Glenn (@glennb)
26th July 2013, 16:54
That just isn’t true. I once saw Webber make a place off the start. I can’t remember when but I believe the video is in a sealed vault somewhere.
Beto (@chebeto0)
26th July 2013, 17:04
@Glenn, last race ;)
Mclaren (@ahmej010gmail-com)
26th July 2013, 15:19
People are jumping to conclusions too quick,; firstly on the qualifying runs it was very tight, and on the long runs Merc, Ferrari and Lotus were very similar with RB running slightly lighter as i doubt they’ve magically pulled out a second, I fully expect Mercedes to get pole position, Lewis has had many bad Friday’s but bounced back to take pole. Chill people, its only practice!
Shreyas Mohanty (@)
26th July 2013, 16:19
God Vettel needs to move to Marussia soon, just for the sake of variation. Btw Ferrari looks close on single-lap pace .
Max Jacobson (@vettel1)
26th July 2013, 16:46
@shreyasf1fan actually I think it’d be pretty good if Red Bull turn out to be not as competitive next season: I’d like to see how (or if) people’s perceptions of him change.
Glenn (@glennb)
26th July 2013, 16:55
Close to each other is about all.
sato113 (@sato113)
26th July 2013, 18:30
if red bull were back of the grid next year i’d breathe a big sigh of relief. someone else could win for once.
Rockie
27th July 2013, 1:29
So in other words you agree its Vettel and not the car!
Timothy Katz (@timothykatz)
26th July 2013, 22:27
Wasn’t it one of Mosely’s more bizarre ideas that drivers should move around from one team to another . . . I don’t think I dreamt that, but perhaps someone else can remind me of the details.
And yes: I’d love to see Vettel at Marussia, Alonso at Caterham, Hamilton at . . . . actually, according to their current form, maybe Maclaren!
Lewis McMurray (@celicadion23)
26th July 2013, 17:00
Looks like Vettel will claim pole tomorrow then win the race, then do the same at every other race this year and take the title. Then win every title until he retires. And then somehow still win the one after that.