Formula One: Hamilton crashes, Rosberg on top

BUDAPEST: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 twoyear 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 visited the medical centre 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 and Jenson Button.