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Latifi in Hongarije

Leclerc expletive after baffling Latifi hot lap

Latifi in Hongarije — Photo: © LAT Images

Leclerc expletive after baffling Latifi hot lap

Latifi finished fastest in FP3

Charles Leclerc was left baffled by the lap time set by Nicholas Latifi at the end of the final practice sessions ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Williams driver set a benchmark time of one minute 41.480secs to finish almost seven-tenths faster than Ferrari's Leclerc.

Improving track conditions cannot be offered as an explanation as Leclerc and F1 title rival Max Verstappen both set their final lap times immediately prior to the Canadian, with the reigning champion 1.725s adrift in his Red Bull.

Mercedes' George Russell also crossed the line after Latifi, with the Briton's lap only good enough for fifth quickest, almost two seconds adrift.

The result meant Latifi finished at the top of an F1 practice session for the first time in his career, and for the first time since winning at the same venue in F2 in 2019.

In a team radio message at the end of running, Leclerc was stunned by the pace of the Williams driver in difficult conditions.

"What was the lap time of Latifi?" asked Leclerc.

When he was told by his team the Canadian had set a '41.5', Leclerc replied: "F**k! Inters as well?" to which he was told the tyres were identical.

Leclerc remains the favourite for pole, though, given his pace throughout the session and in Friday practice in which the Monégasque topped the timesheets by over two-tenths of a second.

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