Charles Leclerc recorded the fastest time in Free Practice 1 ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, positioning his Ferrari ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The Monegasque driver posted a time of 1m 19.075s, placing him half a second clear of Verstappen. However, his session concluded with a mechanical issue in the final 10 minutes, causing his Ferrari to stop at the pit lane entry.
Many teams introduced upgrades at the Hungaroring circuit, which is set to host the 40th Hungarian Grand Prix. Drivers immediately took to the track when the session began at 13:30 local time. The session also featured five rookie drivers, including Fred Vesti in Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, while the Drivers’ Championship leader observed from the sidelines.
Session Highlights and Incidents
Initially, George Russell moved to the top of the timesheets with a 1m 22.056s on medium Pirelli tyres. Leclerc then set a 1m 20.884s as track conditions improved. Verstappen later took the lead with a 1m 20.788s, despite encountering issues with downshifts and being obstructed by Carlos Sainz’s Williams into Turn 12. Both drivers’ erratic driving will be investigated after the session. Leclerc also faced a brief obstruction from Hamilton at Turn 12 before setting his fastest lap.
Hamilton moved into second place, but reported his car’s ride was too stiff. Incidents included Colton Herta (in for Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac) and Alex Albon’s Williams experiencing lock-ups into Turn 1. Russell, on soft tyres, set a new session best of 1m 20.066s, which was quickly surpassed by Verstappen’s 1m 19.559s. Lando Norris, despite being quickest in the opening sector, ran wide at Turn 11.
The session saw a red flag with just over 20 minutes remaining when Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin stopped at the exit of Turn 3 due to a suspected left-rear suspension failure, leading to a spin. The session resumed with 17 minutes left, with teams focusing on Qualifying simulations. Sainz also experienced a significant double-front lock-up into Turn 1.
| Pos. | Driver | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Leclerc LEC | 1:19.075 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen VER | +0.484s |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton HAM | +0.543s |
| 4 | Isack Hadjar HAD | +0.922s |
| 5 | George Russell RUS | +0.991s |
Despite his late mechanical issue, Leclerc remained the fastest. Verstappen finished ahead of Hamilton, with Isack Hadjar securing a top-four spot for Red Bull. Other drivers in the top 10 included Russell, Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), Vesti, Nico Hulkenberg (Audi), Arvid Lindblad, and Liam Lawson (both Racing Bulls).
Aston Martin’s Upgrade and Mechanical Concerns
Aston Martin debuted its B-spec car at the Hungaroring. However, Lance Stroll suffered a mechanical failure, believed to be a suspension issue, less than 40 minutes into FP1. Team boss Adrian Newey stated that the failure was unexpected and not related to the car’s upgrades, as the affected area had not been changed. The team is currently investigating the cause of the failure.
Fernando Alonso, driving the sister car, showed respectable pace. Newey confirmed that the team is short on spare parts due to minor changes in cladding. He also addressed concerns about returning Honda engine-related oscillations, which were visible on both drivers’ onboard cameras during FP1. Newey indicated that Honda is aware of the issue and is working on a solution.
Newey revealed that the Aston Martin chassis overhaul is a multi-phase plan. The first part arrived in Hungary, with a second phase scheduled for Zandvoort after the summer break, coinciding with Honda’s sole engine upgrade. A third phase of the chassis upgrade is planned for either Monza or Baku in September. Newey expressed confidence that the upgrades represent a significant step forward for the team, aiming for “respectability” after what he described as a “nightmare” start to the season.
Leonardo Fornaroli, the reigning Formula 2 champion, participated for McLaren in place of Oscar Piastri, testing the team’s new ‘flip-flop’-style rear wing. Other drivers completing the order ahead of FP2 included Ryo Hirakawa (for Ollie Bearman at Haas), Sergio Perez (Cadillac), and Paul Aron (for Franco Colapinto at Alpine).
Source: formula1.com
