Norris eclipses Verstappen as Leclerc hits trouble
![Lando Norris has turned up the heat by being fastest in practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix. (EPA PHOTO)](https://images.thewest.com.au/publication/C-15412076/e7ed0d09739366baa1c9007aa837e1a865041912-16x9-x0y0w1280h720.jpg?imwidth=810&impolicy=wan_v3)
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashed in the second Hungarian Grand Prix practice session, with McLaren's Lando Norris fastest ahead of Red Bull's runaway Formula One leader Max Verstappen.
Norris lapped the Hungaroring, where track temperatures soared to 41C, with a best time of 1min 17.788sec on the soft tyres.
It was a different story for McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, the Australian finishing 13th in the standings after second practice. Fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo was eighth in his RB.
Verstappen, 84 points ahead of the Briton in the championship after winning seven of 12 races, was 0.243 off the pace in an upgraded car.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, fastest in the first session, was third quickest ahead of Red Bull's Sergio Perez and Mercedes' George Russell. Mercedes have won the past two races.
Leclerc brought out red flags to halt the session, with 43 minutes remaining, when he spun at speed and across the track and into the metal Armco barriers hidden behind advertising boards.
The medical car was deployed due to the impact but Leclerc appeared unhurt and returned to the pits as a passenger. The session resumed 15 minutes later.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner said it had been a positive day for his team and probably under-performing Perez's best Friday since China in April.
"There's a slight difference between the cars, both of them have upgrades and the only bit Checo (Perez) is missing is the engine cover and sidepod element," he said.
"The floor, the wing and the rest of it is the same. We've got some great data."
Kevin Magnussen, out of a drive with Haas at the end of the season, was a strong sixth and seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton seventh for Mercedes.
RB's Ricciardo, Williams' Alex Albon and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso completed the top 10.
Sainz had raised Ferrari hopes by leading triple champion Verstappen in FP1 (practice one), with Leclerc third, in a time of 1:18.713. That time was 0.276 quicker than Verstappen.
Russell was fourth in FP1 ahead of Guanyu Zhou in the surprisingly quick and upgraded Sauber and the McLarens of Norris and Piastri.
"We are all experimenting, which is why you will see a lot of performance swings through the sectors. At least today until it probably converges tomorrow," RB team boss Laurent Mekies said.
Ferrari reserve Oliver Bearman, the Briton who will race for Haas next season, replaced Nico Hulkenberg at the US-owned team for the first session and was last overall.
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