Mexican Sergio Perez scrambled free from the wreckage of a heavy crash that left his Force India upside down on the track, halting first practice for the Hungarian Formula One Grand Prix this morning.

Video replays indicated a right rear suspension failure after the car went over artificial grass at the exit to turn 11 and pitched sideways across the track and into the barriers.

The car then flipped over before coming to a halt, with Perez climbing out and walking away apparently unhurt.

The accident came only three days after drivers attended the funeral of Frenchman Jules Bianchi, who died last week in hospital of injuries sustained at the Japanese Grand Prix nine months ago.

All the cars carried tributes to the 25-year-old, the first driver to die from race injuries since 1994.

"It was a really bad accident, pretty unlucky," Perez told reporters of his crash at the Hungaroring.

"But everything's alright. It was a strange accident. I thought it was under control but the AstroTurf was very dirty which is why I went in the wall. We'll have to check everything in detail."

The morning session re-started after the Force India was cleared away but was again halted with five minutes remaining when Kimi Raikkonen lost the front wing of his Ferrari and spread debris across the track.

Double world champion Lewis Hamilton was fastest for Mercedes, 0.109 seconds ahead of team mate and title rival Nico Rosberg. Hamilton also led the second practice session.

Raikkonen was third fastest in the first practice session with Australian Daniel Ricciardo, last year's winner, fourth for Red Bull.

Lotus reserve Jolyon Palmer failed to set a time with the team's preparations suffering a setback when payment problems meant Pirelli did not release their tyres until shortly before the session started.

Both sides the issue had now been resolved.

SECOND PRACTICE SESSION TIMES
 
1.  Lewis Hamilton (Britain)     Mercedes               1:23.949  
2.  Daniil Kvyat (Russia)        RedBull - Renault      1:24.300  
3.  Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) RedBull - Renault      1:24.451  
4.  Nico Rosberg (Germany)       Mercedes               1:24.668  
5.  Kimi Raikkonen (Finland)     Ferrari                1:25.134  
6.  Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain)      Toro Rosso - Renault   1:25.599  
7.  Sebastian Vettel (Germany)   Ferrari                1:25.660  
8.  Fernando Alonso (Spain)      McLaren                1:25.752  
9.  Valtteri Bottas (Finland)    Williams-Mercedes      1:25.881  
10. Felipe Massa (Brazil)        Williams-Mercedes      1:25.920  
11. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Toro Rosso - Renault   1:25.935  
12. Jenson Button (Britain)      McLaren                1:25.994  
13. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Lotus - Mercedes       1:26.090  
14. Felipe Nasr (Brazil)         Sauber - Ferrari       1:26.379  
15. Romain Grosjean (France)     Lotus - Mercedes       1:26.442  
16. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden)     Sauber - Ferrari       1:26.831  
17. Roberto Merhi (Spain)        Marussia - Ferrari     1:29.113  
18. Will Stevens (Britain)       Marussia - Ferrari     1:29.115  
19. Sergio Perez (Mexico)        Force India - Mercedes           
20. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany)   Force India - Mercedes

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