Hungarian Grand Prix, FP2 results, Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, Daniel Ricciardo, video, highlights

McLaren’s Lando Norris said he had no intention of changing his “good boy” demeanour after overtaking Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen to top the timesheets on Friday in a sweltering second free practice ahead of this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old Briton, who is 84 points behind three-time champion Red Bull in the drivers’ title race, has reacted on and off track after it was suggested he is not ruthless or aggressive enough to be a consistent winner.

In a closely contested session, he set a best time of 1:17.788 to edge out his friend and rival Verstappen, a driver with a tougher reputation, by 0.243 seconds.

Putting aside suggestions that he is “too nice” to be a consistent winner on track, Norris once again proved that he and McLaren have the potential to win Sunday’s race.

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“I don’t care what people say,” he responded to those who consider his behavior on the track to be too respectful.

“I’m a good person and I try to be respectful as much as I can, but that has no relevance to what happens on the track. What happened 10, 15 or 20 years ago is completely different to what happens today.”

“If I wanted to, I could be a lot more of a jerk and act like a jerk, that kind of character, to make people think I’m ruthless, but I don’t need to do that and I don’t want to do that.”

Recent bad luck with the team’s tactics and decision-making has robbed it of four potential wins following its maiden triumph in Miami, but Norris has avoided complaining or blaming his McLaren team.

“I still want to make jokes, have fun and laugh,” he explained.

“I’m just enjoying my life and it’s that simple. When I put the helmet on, I’m going to do what I have to do to win. I know what works for me and I’m going to stick to that.”

As if to mark his polite demeanor, Norris wore a hand-painted helmet prepared for him by the makers of the winners’ trophies, Herend Porcelain, a choice he made so he could apologise for breaking Verstappen’s winner’s trophy on the podium last year.

Carlos Sainz was third for Ferrari, a tenth down, ahead of an improving Sergio Perez in second Red Bull, Mercedes’ George Russell and Haas’ Kevin Magnussen, who will leave the team at the end of the year.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, hoping to claim a record ninth win in Hungary and complete a treble for Mercedes, was seventh ahead of RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, Williams’ Alex Albon and two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.

Eight different teams were represented in the top ten, indicating how close the field is (only Red Bull and Mercedes fielded both drivers) and how close a race is expected on Sunday.

RB’s Daniel Ricciardo was eighth with a time of 1:18.371, while fellow Australian Oscar Piastri was 13th with a time of 1:18.618 in the McLaren.

After a promising first session, Ferrari’s fortunes took a turn for the worse when the unfortunate Charles Leclerc lost control and went off at Turn Four, going over the kerbs and into the barriers.

“I hit the wall,” he said, damaging his car and the billboards.

The session was suspended for 14 minutes.

It was also a difficult day for Mercedes due to the technological problems that arose following a global IT failure at its partner Crowdstrike. As a result, Mercedes had to work with blank screens on the pit wall during the first practice session. The heat did not help either.

After winning the Austrian and British Grands Prix, the Mercedes pair were hoping to extend their run and secure a ‘Silver Arrows’ hat-trick. Both struggled to keep up with Norris and Verstappen.

“It’s not been a good day,” said Hamilton, who ended a two-year wait without a win by winning the British Grand Prix on home soil in the last race.

“The weather has been good and it’s nice to be here, but we haven’t really been in good shape.

“The car doesn’t feel good in terms of set-up, but I think we have an idea why and we will work on it overnight.”