Lewis Hamilton set the early pace in a disrupted opening practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
With rain lurking around the Hungaroring, the Briton posted a 1m17.233s on the soft compound tyre despite complaining about brake issues at the start of the session.
There was more trouble for Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas, however, as a misfire on his engine led to the team calling him back into the garage.
Such was the late call that the Finn went around the wrong side of the bollard on the entry to the pits and he would not be seen again.
The session struggled to get into a rhythm as threats of rain and then a heavier shower saw teams play it conservatively.
Eventually, it would receed and the drivers headed back out on the slicks after a few had completed slow laps on the intermediates.
When the pace picked up, Max Verstappen would move into second in the closing minutes, less than two-tenths behind Hamilton.
It wasn’t too easy for the Red Bull driver, however, as he spun twice in the final sector and complained of a “sensitive” rear on entry.
Sebastian Vettel showed good pace in third for Ferrari, just 0.001s behind Verstappen and eight-tenths clear of Charles Leclerc, who struggled down in sixth.
Pierre Gasly arrived in Budapest anticipating a stronger weekend on a circuit he says suits his driving style and where he finished sixth last year for Toro Rosso.
And the initial signs are strong with the Frenchman fourth, less than half a second behind Hamilton in the second Red Bull.
In the tricky conditions, Kevin Magnussen sat fifth for Haas with Nico Hulkenberg seventh in the Renault.
The two McLaren’s followed in eighth and ninth, though there was late trouble for Carlos Sainz as a water pressure issue meant the team were having to change his engine between the two practice sessions.
It wouldn’t be a top-10 without Kimi Raikkonen and the Finn obliged by claiming P10 for Alfa Romeo.
Daniel Ricciardo sat just outside in P11 in the second Renault ahead of Romain Grosjean in 12th as he continues to use the Melbourne-spec Haas.
Racing Point’s efforts to test their new upgrades were impacted by the conditions and also a spin for both drivers, as Lance Stroll lost the rear exiting the chicane and Sergio Perez was lucky to avoid the barrier as he lost the car on cold tyres during an out-lap.
The man they’ve all come to see at the Hungaroring is Robert Kubica, though the Pole was left as the slowest of the 19 drivers to set a time in the Williams.
Perhaps more worrying was the six-tenths gap between himself and George Russell in 17th.
More rain is expected to hit during the afternoon, meaning the brief long runs some completed in the final 15 minutes could be all the data teams have heading into the weekend.
Full results can be seen below:
