The Hungaroring welcomed F1 back to Hungary with a day that showcased McLaren’s dominant form. From Fernando Alonso’s absence due to injury to Verstappen’s bizarre stewards summons, day one delivered classic Hungarian Grand Prix intrigue. What unfolded during the opening practice sessions? Stay tuned with Supercars.com.GH to find out!
FP1
Lando Norris made an immediate statement by topping FP1 with a commanding 1:16.052, leading teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.019 seconds in another McLaren one-two. Charles Leclerc completed the top three for Ferrari, while the session was notable for several absences and technical dramas.
Fernando Alonso missed the session due to a muscular back injury, with Felipe Drugovich stepping into his Aston Martin for a return to F1 action. The Brazilian finished 16th after a solid outing, while Paul Aron made his second appearance for Kick Sauber, replacing Nico Hulkenberg before suffering a technical failure that ended his session early with just nine laps completed.
Pierre Gasly encountered early problems reporting “no power” in his Alpine, though the issue was resolved, allowing him to continue. Lewis Hamilton, an eight-time winner at the Hungaroring, struggled for pace and complained about the car not feeling good, finishing fifth behind Racing Bulls’ impressive Isack Hadjar.
The session saw Norris become the first driver to break the 1m 16s barrier, setting the benchmark that would remain unbeaten. Mercedes reverted to a previous suspension setup, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell finishing seventh and eighth, respectively.
FP2
Norris completed a perfect Friday by topping FP2 with a 1:15.624, maintaining McLaren’s stranglehold over the timesheets. Piastri again followed in second, 0.291s behind, while Leclerc claimed third for Ferrari in another consistent showing.
The session’s biggest talking point involved Max Verstappen, who was summoned to the stewards for a bizarre incident at Turn 3 where he slowed to a crawling pace and appeared to throw a towel from his cockpit. The Dutchman struggled throughout, finishing 14th and complaining the car felt like “driving on ice.”
Aston Martin bounced back strongly with Lance Stroll fourth and the returning Alonso fifth, suggesting their package suits the Hungarian layout. Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top six for Ferrari, while Mercedes showed improvement with Russell seventh.
Can McLaren maintain this dominant form heading into Saturday’s crucial sessions? Join Supercars.com.GH tomorrow to find out!