Lando Norris completes practice double at the Hungarian Grand Prix

Lando Norris completed an impressive practice double over championship rival Oscar Piastri at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Norris trails McLaren team-mate Piastri by 16 points heading into Sunday’s round at the Hungaroring – the final race before the summer break.

But the British driver laid down an early marker in the first running of the weekend when he beat Piastri to top spot by just 0.019 seconds. He then extended his advantage to 0.291 seconds in the day’s concluding session.

Norris’ world championship bid suffered a setback at last weekend’s rain-hit Belgian Grand Prix when Piastri overtook him on the first racing lap and went on to claim a comfortable win.

However, it was Norris – never previously out-qualified by a team-mate in six visits to the Hungaroring – who stole an early advantage with an impressive performance on Friday at a circuit he has declared among his favourites on the calendar.

There was one moment of concern for Norris when he ran wide at the final turn. But he managed to retake control of his McLaren, and survived without ending up in the wall.

Lando Norris flirts with the barriers as he rounds the final corner