Lando Norris On Top After Beating Max Verstappen In Second Practice

McLaren's Lando Norris outpaced world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull to top the times in Friday's second free practice session, run in hot conditions, ahead of this weekend's Hungarian Grand Prix. The 24-year-old Briton, who trails the three-time champion by 84 points in the drivers' title race, clocked a best time of one minute and 17.788 seconds to beat his friend and rival by 0.243 seconds in a tightly-contested session. Carlos Sainz was third for Ferrari, one-tenth down, ahead of an improving Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull, George Russell of Mercedes and Haas's Kevin Magnussen, who is set to leave the team at the end of the year.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, hoping to claim a record-increasing ninth Hungarian victory, was seventh ahead of RB's Daniel Ricciardo, Alex Albon of Williams and two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.

Eight different teams were represented in the top ten, signalling how close the field has become -- only Red Bull and Mercedes providing both drivers -- and how a tight race is in prospect for Sunday.

The session began with Nico Hulkenberg leading the way in searing heat amid temperatures of 32 celsius (air) and 60 (track), setting the first lap time on mediums before being usurped by Perez in 1:18.568, the Mexican at last finding some pace.

On his first run, Verstappen complained that his brakes were "not working, they're not biting". He was fifth and then went second behind his Red Bull team-mate.

After a promising first session, Ferrari's fortunes dipped when the luckless Leclerc lost control and ran wide at Turn Four, ran over the kerbs and hit the barriers.

"I touched the wall," he reported, having damaged his car and the advertising hoardings.

The session was