Russell sets record pace as Mercedes tops Hungary test 

Mercedes Formula 1 youngster George Russell produced a new track record at the Hungaroring as he topped the timesheets on the final day of 2018 in-season testing in Hungary. 

Russell dislodged morning pacesetter Kimi Raikkonen with a new best time on Hypersofts after the pair traded fastest laps early in the afternoon with Mercedes ultimately ending the two-day test at the Hungarian Grand Prix quickest. 

The Formula 2 points leader’s 1m15.575s beat the time managed by Antonio Giovinazzi - who set the pace on the opening day for Ferrari - by less than a tenth of a second. Raikkonen ended up just 0.074s adrift of Russell, as well as being 0.001s off matching the exact same time set by Giovinazzi. 

Red Bull simulator driver Jake Dennis made his second appearance for the team in an F1 test and finished with the third-quickest time, some 1.4s off the pace, while Giovinazzi, swapping a Ferrari for a Sauber’s, claimed fourth spot with an effort just one second shy of his session-leading time on Tuesday.

Nikita Mazepin twice brought out the red flags with separate stoppages either side of the lunch break in his Force India, but the Russian recovered to surge into fifth in the closing stages of the day thanks to a late Hypersoft run. 

Robert Kubica completed over 100 laps and ended up 2.8s off the pace in sixth on his return to the cockpit of the Williams FW41. The pole enjoyed support from his loyal fans, who chanted his name from the main grandstand throughout the day. 

McLaren protege and F2 title contender Lando Norris completed both days of running for the Woking-based outfit and finished seventh-quickest, ahead of F1 test debutant Artem Markelov, who racked up a century of laps and improved his pace in the afternoon. 

Sean Gelael recovered from his off on Tuesday to record the fastest time out of a trio of Toro Rosso drivers, heading Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley, with the teammates splitting their running on Wednesday as they carried out tyre testing for Pirelli. 

F1 action resumes at the end of the month with the 2018 Belgian Grand Prix, which takes place on August 26th. 

Hungary F1 Test Times - Wednesday Results