Budapest (AFP)

Free practice disturbed by the rain and in the end few lessons to draw: the day of Friday will have provided little guidance to the teams to prepare the qualifications of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Hungary.

The best time went to Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), leader of the World Championship with a lead of 41 points, in 1 min 17 sec 233/1000 in the morning session.

The Brit has beaten the Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), winner of the previous round in Germany, 165/1000 and the German Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) of 166/1000, sign that the gap between the three leading teams , gaping at the beginning of the season, tightens.

More rainy, the afternoon session, dominated by the Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Red Bull) in 1 min 17 sec 854/1000, saw the pilots settle for a reduced program.

"It does not make much sense to drive when you know that the rest of the weekend will be mostly dry," Hamilton said, as Saturday looks stormy in the morning and sunny Sunday.

Free practice 3 is scheduled from 12:00 to 13:00 (10:00 to 11:00 GMT) and qualifications from 15:00 to 16:00 (13:00 to 14:00).

- "Best feelings" -

The second session will have allowed them to continue to make their mark on the intermediate tires and rain they discovered last week at the GP of Germany.

Ill last weekend, the Mercedes driver confided that this time he slipped with pleasure in his tub: "I still evacue this virus but it's a good thing".

On the other side of the garage Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas suffered a problem of engine in free practice 1. It was necessary to change his unit of power, which will not cause a penalty but limited his time on the track to two turns during of this session and thereafter.

"It does not matter," said the Finn, "at least I was comfortable when I was driving, I have a feeling about the balance of the car and what to work for. tomorrow."

Bottas says, his feelings are "much better" than in Hockenheim, where Mercedes has introduced a new chassis. Hamilton's same story, according to which, "from the beginning, the balance of the car was quite pleasant."

Both are keen to redeem themselves after a disappointing round last week in Germany, the first GP to race in the rain this season.

Yet usually comfortable in these conditions, the Briton had to settle for a 9th place (following the downgrading of Alfa Romeo, whose appeal will be examined on September 24), after a runway, a head-to -tail and a penalty of five seconds for an illegal entry in the pits!

- "Mercedes a little ahead" -

Bottas, but also Pierre Gasly, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) or Sergio Perez (Racing Point) did not cross the finish line after accidents.

Friday's day was finally marked by an accident by Thailand's Alexander Albon (Toro Rosso), who severely damaged the left flank of his single-seater in free practice 2.

In the drivers standings, Hamilton is in the lead with a 41-point lead over his teammate. In the position of third man, Max Verstappen points to 63 lengths of the British. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) is 4th at 84 and Leclerc 5th at 105 points.

In the constructors, Ferrari is sailing at 148 lengths of Silver Arrows and Red Bull at 192.

Short and tortuous, the Hungaroring, theater of the 12th round of 2019 (the last before the summer break), corresponds more to the paper with the characteristics of Red Bull and Mercedes, which benefit from more aerodynamic supports allowing them to negotiate the curves faster.

"Mercedes seems to be a bit ahead but it's tight, which is positive," concludes Verstappen "Qualifications should be interesting."

© 2019 AFP