Hungarian Grand Prix Practice Sessions
Lewis Hamilton led Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari one-two during Friday practice sessions at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Hamilton was 0.148 seconds ahead of Leclerc, with McLaren’s Lando Norris securing third position, 0.499 seconds off the leading pace. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished fourth.
The practice day also saw Fernando Alonso finish 19th fastest in the new Aston Martin car. Despite being 2.990 seconds off the pace, the team principal, Adrian Newey, described the car’s initial outing as “promising.” Alonso had a lap nearly 0.4 seconds faster disallowed due to track limits at the final corner. This new car represents a significant upgrade for Aston Martin, with only its engine, gearbox, and front suspension remaining unchanged from previous specifications.
Ferrari appeared strong, which was anticipated given the track’s suitability for the car’s cornering capabilities. In contrast, Mercedes, with George Russell in fifth and championship leader Kimi Antonelli in 13th, seemed to face challenges. Antonelli did not complete a qualifying simulation lap in the second session, with one attempt aborted due to Franco Colapinto’s crash and another due to an error at the chicane.
Aston Martin’s Upgrades and Challenges
Speaking between sessions, Adrian Newey commented on the new Aston Martin, stating that “Provisional results are promising.” He also mentioned that this is only a partial upgrade package, with further steps planned for Zandvoort, Monza, and Baku. Newey highlighted the team’s caution due to a shortage of parts, emphasising the need to learn about the new components.
The day was not without issues for Aston Martin. Alonso’s teammate, Lance Stroll, experienced a spin in the first session that initially appeared to be a rear suspension failure. Stroll was subsequently unable to participate in the second practice session because there was insufficient time to repair his car. The team initially reported a “suspected rear left suspension issue” but later clarified that the suspension “wasn’t damaged.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Stroll’s car, Aston Martin expressed confidence in the safety of Alonso’s vehicle. Engine partner Honda is set to introduce a new engine at the Dutch Grand Prix following the summer break, which could further impact performance.
Practice Session Incidents and Other Teams
Several teams were working to fine-tune upgrades during the practice sessions, including Aston Martin with their significant updates, and McLaren, who also introduced a substantial new package. Red Bull brought back their rotating rear wing for the event. The session saw Cadillac and Alpine among the first to take to the track, with several drivers, including Kimi Antonelli, Oscar Piastri, Franco Colapinto, Ollie Bearman, and Valtteri Bottas, participating after rookie counterparts had driven in FP1.
The windy conditions made balance a challenge for many drivers. George Russell described his Mercedes as feeling “dreadful” and “so out of balance,” while his teammate also noted issues with the car’s behaviour, reporting that he “almost spun twice on braking.” Pierre Gasly also reported problems with his car, stating, “Something feels wrong on the car, it’s extremely bad. It just feels broken in Turn 12. Something with the front is wrong.”
During the soft tyre runs, Lando Norris recorded the fastest lap of the session in his upgraded McLaren with a time of 1m 19.228s. However, Kimi Antonelli’s attempt to respond was interrupted by a red flag after Franco Colapinto crashed his Alpine at the final corner, spinning backwards into the barrier. After the recovery of Colapinto’s car, qualifying simulation laps resumed, with Charles Leclerc briefly taking the top spot with a 1m 18.877s lap before Lewis Hamilton improved his time to 1m 18.729s, securing the best time of the day.
| Rank | Driver | Number | Fastest Lap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 1 | Lewis Hamilton HAM Ferrari Ferrari | 44 44 | 1:18.729 1:18.729 | 26 26 |
| 2 2 | Charles Leclerc LEC Ferrari Ferrari | 16 16 | 1:18.877 1:18.877 | 30 30 |
| 3 3 | Lando Norris NOR McLaren McLaren | 1 1 | 1:19.228 1:19.228 | 30 30 |
| 4 4 | Max Verstappen VER Red Bull Red Bull | 3 3 | 1:19.421 1:19.421 | 27 27 |
| 5 5 | George Russell RUS Mercedes Mercedes | 63 63 | 1:19.662 1:19.662 | 30 30 |
| 6 6 | Isack Hadjar HAD Red Bull Red Bull | 6 6 | 1:19.800 1:19.800 | 20 20 |
| 7 7 | Liam Lawson LAW Racing Bulls Racing Bul… | 30 30 | 1:20.041 1:20.041 | 29 29 |
| 8 8 | Oscar Piastri PIA McLaren McLaren | 81 81 | 1:20.101 1:20.101 | 28 28 |
| 9 9 | Nico Hulkenberg HUL Audi Audi | 27 27 | 1:20.125 1:20.125 | 30 30 |
| 10 10 | Arvid Lindblad LIN Racing Bulls Racing… | 41 41 | 1:20.253 1:20.253 | 29 29 |
| 11 11 | Gabriel Bortoleto BOR Audi Audi | 5 5 | 1:20.474 1:20.474 | 27 27 |
| 12 12 | Esteban Ocon OCO Haas Haas | 31 31 | 1:20.557 1:20.557 | 26 26 |
| 13 13 | Kimi Antonelli ANT Mercedes Mercedes | 12 12 | 1:20.693 1:20.693 | 30 30 |
| 14 14 | Pierre Gasly GAS Alpine Alpine | 10 10 | 1:20.816 1:20.816 | 24 24 |
| 15 15 | Oliver Bearman BEA Haas Haas | 87 87 | 1:20.950 1:20.950 | 28 28 |
Following debris from Alonso’s Aston Martin, Max Verstappen secured fourth for Red Bull, ahead of Russell, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson. Oscar Piastri was seventh, with Nico Hulkenberg and Arvid Lindblad completing the top 10. Gabriel Bortoleto, Esteban Ocon, Kimi Antonelli, Pierre Gasly, Ollie Bearman, and the Williams duo of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz followed. The final positions included Valtteri Bottas, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, and Franco Colapinto in his damaged Alpine, while Lance Stroll remained in the garage for the entire session.
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Source: bbc.com
