Massa fastest in final Hungarian GP practice

BUDAPEST, Aug 4 (Reuters) Ferrari's Felipe Massa kept his McLaren rivals off the top of the timesheets in final practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix today.

The Brazilian lapped the Hungaroring in one minute 20.183 seconds, 0.231 quicker than McLaren's double Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso.

McLaren's championship leader, 22-year-old British rookie Lewis Hamilton, was third with BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld fourth.

Hamilton leads Alonso by two points with seven races remaining, while Massa is a further nine points behind the Spaniard. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, fifth fastest today, is seven points behind Massa.

While Alonso can retake the lead in the championship if he wins tomorrow, Massa has a point to make after being beaten into second place by the Spaniard in a wheel-banging duel at the Nuerburgring two weeks ago.

Honda's Jenson Button, who took the only win of his Formula One career to date at a wet Hungaroring last August, could manage only the 18th best time with Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello 20th.

REUTERS JR VV1614