After topping FP1, Hamilton managed just five laps before spinning off at Turn 11 and hitting the wall.
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Having driven back to the pits, Hamilton reckoned that he could have rejoined the session, but his Mercedes crew erred on the side of caution.
The crash triggered the g-force sensors that require drivers to undergo a precaution medical check, though Hamilton confirmed he was unhurt.
He underwent a precautionary check at the medical centre and appeared to be fine, but his auto had to be fully stripped and checked, ruling him out of the rest of the session.
Quickest on the first day of track action around the Hungaroring – 0.6s over Daniel Ricciardo -, Rosberg was impressed by the early margin.
Hamilton’s accident was the only high-profile incident of the session, run in hot conditions with track temperatures in the forties.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be in quite such a strong position tomorrow – but for now it’s very positive”.
Dutch teenager Max Verstappen was fourth fastest in the second Red Bull and Hamilton fifth, even though he did not run on the super-soft tyres during his brief 14 minutes on track at the start of the 90-minute session.
“Fortunately, I got a good feel for it in the few laps that I did have and the pace is clearly there, so hopefully tomorrow I can make up for the time lost today during the morning session and come back strongly in qualifying”.
His best lap of one minute and 20.261 seconds was a hefty half a second faster than that of Hamilton.
“We are more or less where we expected to be”, Ricciardo said. The Briton was left with suspension and bodywork damage, meaning he was unable to take part in the remainder of the session.
Vettel, who has struggled for consistency with Ferrari and suffered successive gearbox problems, said: “I’m not entirely happy with the balance, but I think we can improve overnight”.
“It’s alright — I don’t mind who my team-mate is”, he said.
Three-time world champion Hamilton signed a three-year deal with the team through to the end of the 2018 season in May last year. Apart from the last race, it’s generally a very solid team.
Hamilton, one point shy of Rosberg in the championship, is seeking a record fifth win and a current hat-trick of straight wins in Hungary, the 11th race of the 21-race season.
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British rookie Jolyon Palmer hoped Sunday’s race will provide his best chance of opening his points-scoring tally in the sport, and after he failed to complete any meaningful running on Friday following a fuel pressure issue, he was an impressive 10th in final practice.
