Lewis Hamilton crashed enabling Nico Rosberg to take advantage and top the times for Mercedes in Friday’s second free practice for Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix.
The 31-year-old German, who earlier 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.
Dutch 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 center 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 Mexican Sergio Perez.
Hamilton, one point shy of Rosberg in the championship, is seeking a record fifth win and a current hat-trick of straight wins in Hungary, the 11th race of the 21-race season.
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