Lewis Hamilton continued to top the times ahead of his Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Nico Rosberg in Friday’s second free practice session for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 29-year-old Briton, who is seeking to complete a hat-trick of wins and claim a record fifth victory at the Hungaroring to cut into Rosberg’s 14-points lead in the title race, clocked a best lap in one minute and 24.482 seconds.

This lifted him 0.238 seconds clear of the German, who seemed at a loss at times as to how he could claw back any of Hamilton’s apparent advantage on one of his favourite circuits.

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel was third, six-tenths off the pace, in his Red Bull ahead of two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, who was nine-tenths adrift.

Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen continued his impressive progress with McLaren by clocking the fifth best time ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari, Australian Daniel Ricciardo in the second Red Bull and rising Finnish star Valtteri Bottas of Williams.

Jenson Button was ninth in the second McLaren and Felipe Massa 10th in the second Williams, having survived a lurid spin during the session.

Hamilton’s best time in the morning session was 1:25.814.