Hungarian GP: Rosberg quickest, Hamilton crashes in 2nd practice

Budapest - Lewis Hamilton crashed enabling Nico Rosberg to take advantage and top the times for Mercedes in Friday's second free practice for the 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 31-year-old, who earlier on Friday signed a new two-year contract to remain with Mercedes until 2018, clocked a best lap in one minute and 20.435 seconds on a busy day at the Hungaroring.

This was enough to see him wind up half a second faster than nearest rival Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull and nine-tenths clear of third-placed four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.

Teenager Max Verstappen was fourth fastest in the second Red Bull and Hamilton fifth, even though he did not run on the super-soft tyres during his brief 14 minutes on track at the start of the 90-minutes session.

The defending three-time champion lost control of the back end of his car out of Turn 11 on the tight and twisty track and hit the barriers side-on.

He was able to re-start and drive gingerly back to the pits, but after an inspection the team decided to strip his car down.

Hamilton, who was unhurt, visited the medical centre for a check-up before returning to the Mercedes garage. He was fastest at the time of his accident, but had done only four laps.

Kimi Raikkonen was sixth for Ferrari ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and his McLaren team-mate 2009 champion Jenson Button.

Nico Hulkenberg was ninth ahead of his team mate Sergio Perez.

Mercedes sensors measured 12G when Hamilton hit the wall. For comparison: deceleration in Ericssons Silverstone crash was 37G. #AMuS

— Tobi Grüner (@tgruener) July 22, 2016

PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION: END OF FP2

Encouraging display from the McLarens as ROS tops the charts#HungarianGP pic.twitter.com/ts8NVCA2mx

— Formula 1 (@F1) July 22, 2016