Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, Hungaroring, 2020

Vettel quickest as several drivers sit out wet second practice

2020 Hungarian Grand Prix second practice

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Ferrari headed an official practice session for the first time in the 2020 F1 season as Sebastian Vettel led a very wet 90 minutes of running at the Hungaroring.

Conditions deteriorated significantly in between Friday’s two practice sessions, so much so that qualifying for the Formula 3 race had to be called off due to the amount of water on the track.

Several Formula 1 drivers did not more than a handful of installation laps rather than risk damaging their cars as the third grand prix meeting in as many weekends continued. The Williams and Renault drivers were among those who decided not to set times, along with Lewis Hamilton, Alexander Albon and Kevin Magnussen.

Vettel covered 12 laps in his Ferrari – more than anyone bar Kimi Raikkonen, who missed the first practice session while Robert Kubica drove his car. Most of those who did venture out for laps locked a wheel or ran wide at some point, though impressively no one made contact with a barrier.

Vettel was among those who used a set of intermediate tyres when the conditions improved. His quickest time of 1’40.464 was well over 20 seconds off a typical dry lap time at the Hungaroring. Valtteri Bottas took second ahead of Carlos Sainz Jnr and the two Racing Point drivers.

Pierre Gasly, who did no laps in the morning practice session due to a problem with his Honda power unit, managed seven laps and was sixth. However he pitted after reporting a burning smell in his car late in the session.

A late lap by Max Verstappen, after the rain had intensified again, put the Red Bull drive seventh. Romain Grosjean, Kimi Raikkonen and the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc completed the top 10.

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Pos. No. Driver Car Best lap Gap Laps
1 5 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1’40.464 12
2 77 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 1’40.736 0.272 5
3 55 Carlos Sainz Jnr McLaren-Renault 1’41.784 1.320 6
4 18 Lance Stroll Racing Point-Mercedes 1’42.380 1.916 6
5 11 Sergio Perez Racing Point-Mercedes 1’42.470 2.006 5
6 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri-Honda 1’42.588 2.124 7
7 33 Max Verstappen Red Bull-Honda 1’42.820 2.356 4
8 8 Romain Grosjean Haas-Ferrari 1’43.335 2.871 6
9 7 Kimi Raikkonen Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 1’43.471 3.007 16
10 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1’43.725 3.261 10
11 99 Antonio Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo-Ferrari 1’44.411 3.947 9
12 4 Lando Norris McLaren-Renault 1’46.000 5.536 5
13 26 Daniil Kvyat AlphaTauri-Honda 1’47.422 6.958 7
14 31 Esteban Ocon Renault 1
15 3 Daniel Ricciardo Renault 1
16 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1
17 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams-Mercedes 2
18 63 George Russell Williams-Mercedes 2
19 23 Alexander Albon Red Bull-Honda 3
20 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas-Ferrari 1

Second practice visual gaps

Sebastian Vettel – 1’40.464

+0.272 Valtteri Bottas – 1’40.736

+1.320 Carlos Sainz Jnr – 1’41.784

+1.916 Lance Stroll – 1’42.380

+2.006 Sergio Perez – 1’42.470

+2.124 Pierre Gasly – 1’42.588

+2.356 Max Verstappen – 1’42.820

+2.871 Romain Grosjean – 1’43.335

+3.007 Kimi Raikkonen – 1’43.471

+3.261 Charles Leclerc – 1’43.725

+3.947 Antonio Giovinazzi – 1’44.411

+5.536 Lando Norris – 1’46.000

+6.958 Daniil Kvyat – 1’47.422

Drivers more then ten seconds off the pace omitted.

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2020 Hungarian Grand Prix

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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9 comments on “Vettel quickest as several drivers sit out wet second practice”

  1. Only cos he has the fastest car :)

  2. He’s re-discovered his mojo. Must have signed for AM

    1. @sumedh, I’d suggest he’s motivated to try harder to showcase his skills so as to attract a new employer.

  3. A wet qualifying will certainly be interesting this week considering the race day forecast looks to be similarly stormy. Most drivers used up their whole weekends full wet tyre allocation in the last quali, how will they ration them if they will be needed in the race?

    Really not surprised nobody was bothering this afternoon.

  4. Bottas, Vettel is faster than you

  5. DAllein (@)
    17th July 2020, 16:38

    He dominated :D

  6. Don’t do it, don’t give me hope

  7. I think vettel did a multi 21 against the ferrari fia agreement :)

  8. somebody has a new job!

Comments are closed.