Leclerc leads Verstappen in Hungary FP1 before Ferrari issue, Hamilton tops FP2
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari recorded the fastest time in Free Practice 1 (FP1) for the Hungarian Grand Prix, outpacing Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Leclerc set a lap time of 1 minute, 19.075 seconds, placing him half a second ahead of Verstappen. However, his session concluded prematurely due to a mechanical issue that brought his Ferrari to a halt in the pit lane entry with seven minutes remaining.
The FP1 session saw many teams introduce upgrades, with drivers immediately taking to the Hungaroring circuit. Five rookie drivers participated, including Fred Vesti in Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes. George Russell initially led the times before Leclerc and then Verstappen took turns at the top.
FP1 Incidents and Top Performers
During FP1, Leclerc was briefly impeded by Hamilton at Turn 12 before setting his fastest lap. Hamilton, who moved into second place, reported his car’s ride was too stiff. Colton Herta, driving for Cadillac, and Alex Albon’s Williams both experienced lock-ups at Turn 1.
The session was red-flagged with just over 20 minutes left when Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin stopped at the exit of Turn 3 due to a suspected left-rear suspension failure. After the restart, drivers focused on qualifying simulations. Leclerc maintained his fastest time, with Verstappen finishing ahead of Hamilton. Isack Hadjar ensured both Red Bulls were in the top four. Other drivers in the top 10 included Russell, Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), Vesti, Nico Hulkenberg (Audi), and the two Racing Bulls of Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson.
| 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 |
Leonardo Fornaroli, the reigning Formula 2 champion, was in action for McLaren, testing a new rear wing. Other participants included Ryo Hirakawa (Haas), Sergio Perez (Cadillac), Paul Aron (Alpine), Herta, Stroll, and Carlos Sainz.
FP2 Sees Hamilton Lead Ferrari Duo
In the subsequent Free Practice 2 (FP2) session on Friday, Lewis Hamilton led a Ferrari one-two, finishing ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc. Hamilton was 0.148 seconds quicker than Leclerc. McLaren’s Lando Norris secured third place, 0.499 seconds behind Hamilton, while Max Verstappen finished fourth.
Fernando Alonso, driving the new Aston Martin, finished 19th fastest in FP2. Despite being 2.990 seconds off the pace, and having a faster lap disallowed due to track limits, Adrian Newey, Aston Martin team principal, described the car’s initial outing as “promising.” This marks a significant improvement for Aston Martin, which has faced challenges for much of the season. Ferrari appeared strong, a performance anticipated given the track’s suitability for the car’s cornering capabilities.
The team is still working to understand the unexpected failure on Stroll’s car in FP1, which Newey stated was not related to the upgrade. He also noted that returning Honda oscillations were a concern, with Honda working on a solution. Aston Martin plans further chassis upgrades, with a second phase after the summer break at Zandvoort and a third phase at either Monza or Baku in September.
Newey expressed hope that the new B-spec car would help the team achieve a level of “respectability” after a challenging start to the season. Alonso’s best time in FP1 placed him 3.123% off the pace, with the first sector being the slowest among all teams, while the second and third sectors were seventh best. The performance of this upgrade is considered important for convincing Alonso to remain with the team for 2027.
Source: formula1.com
