Charles Leclerc was fastest in the first practice ahead of this weekend\u2019s Hungarian Grand Prix; the Ferrari driver set a 19.075 on the soft tyre, going just under half a second faster than the Red Bull of Max Verstappen. Leclerc set his fastest time just after halfway through the session, then no one was able to challenge him for the top spot.<\/p>\n
However, for the Monegasque, his session ended with him crawling his Ferrari back to the pits with something broken and his car pouring smoke. Verstappen managed to split the Ferrari drivers, going six hundredths faster than Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton had a few issues himself and came on the radio during the session. He said: “Something is wrong with the upshifts and downshifts. Like downgraded upshifts and downshifts all the time.”<\/p>\n
Verstappen and the Williams of Carlos Sainz, who finished last, are under investigation for erratically following an incident early in the session when the latter first got in the Red Bull’s way.<\/p>\n
The seven-time champion himself managed to split the Red Bulls as he went just under four tenths faster than Isack Hadjar. Ferrari goes into this weekend believing they have the opportunity to challenge Mercedes for victory. The Frenchman went over three-quarters of a tenth faster than George Russell, who was first onto the soft tyres.<\/p>\n
Ferrari and Mercedes were two of several teams bringing Hungary-specific updates, largely through additional downforce options for the rear wing. But for McLaren, Budapest was marked on its development calendar for a wholesale floor revision, which it hopes will bring its MCL40 closer to Mercedes and Ferrari in cornering performance.<\/p>\n
Aston Martin is another to bring what they described as an entirely new car, including a lighter chassis, all-new aero surfaces and a new rear suspension layout. But the team’s session with its B-spec suffered a major setback when Lance Stroll’s rear suspension appeared to buckle on the exit of Hamilton (Turn Two), causing the Canadian to spin 360 degrees and bringing out a red flag as he parked his car.<\/p>\n
Russel was nearly a second off Leclerc while going comfortably quicker than Gabriel Bortoletto, by nearly three tenths, as the Audi managed to split the Mercedes, going a tenth faster than Fred Vesti. While Vesti, who replaced Kimi Antonelli as one of the compulsory rookie session. The Dane, in turn, split the Audi as he went nearly a tenth and a half ahead of the Racing Bulls.<\/p>\n
Arvid Lindblad was a tenth faster than his teammate Liam Lawson, days after the duo fired up social media after their budget airline flight with easyJet following last weekend\u2019s race at Spa. Lando Norris missed out on the top ten by a tenth and a half, after the McLaren made a mistake at the newly named Schumacher Corner (Eleven).<\/p>\n
As the Hungaroring marks its fortieth anniversary, the completion of major upgrades and the ninety anniversary of the Grand Prix, all its corners have been officially named, the majority after previous winners of the race.<\/p>\n
Norris was three hundredths faster than Esteban Ocon, with Fernando Alonso using his upgraded Aston Martin to go a tenth and a half faster than Pierre Gasly. Alex Albon was seven hundredths faster than McLaren reserve Leonardo Formaroli, who replaced Oscar Piastri.<\/p>\n
The Italian was a tenth faster than Ryo Hirakawa, who had an outing in the Haas of Ollie Bearman, the Japanese driver going just over a tenth faster. Sergio Perez was in between the four rookie drivers in FP1; the Cadillac was eight hundredths faster than Paul Aron. The Alpine split the Cadillac with their reserve driver Colton Herta nearly a second off.<\/p>\n
Lance Stroll was just over a quarter of a second faster than Sainz, who was slowest of all in an opening session which also included a huge lock-up into the first corner. A host of the drivers ran wide there to a greater or lesser extent during the hour, including Russell and Verstappen.<\/p>\n