Giovinazzi lowers pace as Ferrari tops first day of Hungary F1 test 

Antonio Giovinazzi posted an unofficial track record as he lowered the pace to keep Ferrari on top on the opening day of in-season Formula 1 testing in Hungary. 

The Ferrari F1 youngster set a succession of quick laps during a disrupted afternoon session on the first day of the second in-season test in Budapest en route to topping the timesheets, with his best effort - a 1m15.648s set on Hypersofts - proving faster than any lap produced over the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.

Giovinazzi completed 96 laps as he ended quickest on a day that had just one red flag period, caused by Toro Rosso’s Sean Gelael going off at Turn 11, before heavy rain fell with 90 minutes remaining on the clock. 

Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson also improved his time in the afternoon to jump up to second place, albeit some 2.5s adrift of Giovinazzi’s best effort. 

Brendon Hartley continued the work for Toro Rosso as he racked up 126 laps to end the day top of the mileage charts and third in the timings, 0.043s clear of Lando Norris’ McLaren, who finished up on 107 laps.

Formula 2 points leader George Russell ended up fifth-quickest for reigning world champions Mercedes despite only managing 49 laps - the fewest of any driver - after encountering a gearbox issue in the morning. 

Behind the Briton came the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo, Force India development driver Nicholas Latifi and Nico Hulkenberg, who was sidelined from the afternoon session with an electrical issue and managed just 63 laps. 

Williams young driver Oliver Rowland was ninth-fastest but some five seconds off the pace, with Gelael propping up the timesheets for Toro Rosso as he completed tyre work for Pirelli. The Indonesian’s programme was curtailed on his 110th lap as he ended up in the gravel at Turn 11 with just over two hours remaining. 

His stricken STR13 returned to the pitlane under covers on the back of a flat-bed truck but appeared to have sustained front wing and suspension damage, suggesting he made contact with the barriers. 

Following a 25-minute halt to proceedings while marshals set about a clean up operation, a quick downpour further disrupted the session, though Norris and Ricciardo both completed a short run on intermediates in the damp conditions before the chequered flag fell. 

Opening day pacesetter Giovinazzi will return to action on Wednesday, as he takes over driving the Sauber, with Kimi Raikkonen returning to the cockpit of his Ferrari following his ninth podium finish in Hungary. 

Hungary F1 Test Times: Day One Final 

Your favourite moment of the day: a gorgeous graphical guide to all of today’s #BudaTest action from day one. We’re back for more tomorrow! #F1 pic.twitter.com/syIUal99HN

— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) July 31, 2018