Updated July 29, 2017 09:14:37

Photo: Daniel Ricciardo waits in the pit during the second free practice session in Mogyorod. (AP: Darko Bandic)

Australia's Daniel Ricciardo reminded Formula One's title contenders that a revived Red Bull can be a force to reckon with, after lapping fastest in practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Ricciardo, who is fourth in the championship and 60 points behind Ferrari's leader Sebastian Vettel at the mid-point in the season, recorded a best time of one minute and 18.455 seconds in the afternoon session in Mogyorod, just outside of Budapest.

He also led the morning timesheets in 1:18.486, with both his fastest times comfortably inside the race lap record of 1:19.071 set by Michael Schumacher with Ferrari in 2004.

"We obviously brought some updates here and they seem to be working," said Ricciardo, who won the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2014.

"I definitely feel like we have found some grip in various areas and taken a step in the right direction.

"Ferrari seemed to find a bit more pace in the afternoon but I still managed to stay ahead so all signs are good.

"I'm sure the other teams will bring a bit more tomorrow, but I also think we have a bit more to find."

Ricciardo has posted five podium finishes in 2017, including a win in Azerbaijan last month.

Vettel was second fastest in Mogyorod, 0.183 off the pace, after a slow start to his weekend.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, a point behind the German in the standings and chasing a record sixth Hungarian victory on Sunday, was third and fifth respectively in the two sessions.

"It's super tight between Ferrari, Red Bull and ourselves at the top of the leaderboard, so it's looking like it will be an exciting weekend," said Hamilton, who could take a record-equalling 68th career pole in Budapest.

"There's some more work to do overnight to fine-tune the balance to get the car just where we want it and I believe the pace is in there."

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, second fastest in the morning, was fourth behind fellow-Finn Valtteri Bottas after lunch.

Ricciardo's Dutch teammate Max Verstappen was fourth and sixth.

ABC/Reuters

Topics: formula-1, motor-sports, sport, hungary

First posted July 29, 2017 09:11:05