Alonso fastest in practice

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Alonso was 14 points adrift of McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton heading into the French Grand Prix at the start of last month - but three races later, and the gap is now just two.

The Spaniard set a lap of one minute 20.919 seconds for the 4.384km Hungaroring circuit, ending the session 0.364secs ahead of Renault's Heikki Kovalainen, with team-mate Lewis Hamilton third.

With five minutes remaining, 22-year-old Hamilton lost the back end of his McLaren, spinning and ultimately stalling the car.

At least there was no damage done, unlike his 170mph qualifying smash in the European Grand Prix 13 days ago when he obliterated the front end after ploughing into a tyre barrier.

It meant a crane coming to Hamilton's aid to lift him out of the gravel, just as it did during the race at the Nurburgring when he was able to continue.

On this occasion, though, he was a mere bystander for the closing stages, albeit with no change to the top order.

Behind Hamilton came the Williams of Nico Rosberg and then Nick Heidfeld for BMW Sauber, with the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa adding to the surprises by finishing sixth and seventh.

The second Renault of Giancarlo Fisichella was followed by the Toyotas of Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher sandwiching Robert Kubica, with the top 11 all within a second of one another.