McLaren and Ferrari in front of Red Bull

The second practice session brought no change at the top after Friday morning at the Hungaroring. Lewis Hamilton was way out at the front again, giving McLaren hope that the Nürburgring triumph was not just a flash in the pan. But as with every Friday practice, the big question is what the other teams were up to, how much fuel they had on board and whether they were simply trying out new parts.

Be that as it may, the fact is that Hamilton's time of 1:21.018 was easily the best at the end of the two sessions, 0.241 seconds faster than the McLaren man's closest pursuer, Fernando Alonso. A further three-tenths behind in third place was yet another non-Red Bull car driven by Jenson Button. In fact, we have to go down as low as fourth and fifth on the timesheet before we find a vehicle belonging to the reigning constructors' championship team.