According to official timing sheets from Budapest, Ferrari established itself as the team to beat at the Hungaroring during Friday practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc setting the pace in the opening session before Lewis Hamilton responded to top the afternoon running in 1m18.729s.
Ferrari Sets the Early Pace with Hamilton and Leclerc Leading Practice
The Scuderia asserted control over the opening day of action in Hungary. According to track data, Charles Leclerc led the morning session before teammate Lewis Hamilton lowered the benchmark in Free Practice 2. Hamilton’s lap time of 1m18.729s put him 0.148 seconds clear of Leclerc, who finished second in the afternoon.
Behind the leading Ferrari duo, Lando Norris placed third for McLaren, finishing 0.499 seconds off the pace, according to official classification records. Max Verstappen kept Red Bull in touch with the front-runners in fourth, while George Russell rounded out the top five for Mercedes, trailing Hamilton by 0.933 seconds.
Pro Tip: Track conditions at the Hungaroring change rapidly due to shifting wind and ambient temperatures. Teams focusing on long-run race pace often balance low-fuel qualifying simulations with cooling management, as overtaking remains notoriously difficult on the twisty circuit.
Incidents and Mechanical Trouble Hit Alpine, Aston Martin, and Williams
Friday afternoon running saw significant disruptions further down the pit lane. According to race control, Franco Colapinto triggered a red flag during Free Practice 2 after losing control of his Alpine at the final hairpin, sliding backward into the barrier and damaging his rear wing. Colapinto, who missed the morning session entirely, completed just 11 laps across the day.
Aston Martin experienced severe setbacks when Lance Stroll failed to register a lap time in the afternoon session. According to the team, insufficient time to repair suspension damage sustained during an incident in Free Practice 1 kept the Canadian in the garage. Meanwhile, Alex Albon logged a session-high 29 laps for Williams, though the Grove-based outfit continued to grapple with braking stability and a lack of major car updates.
Midfield Order Tightens as Audi and Racing Bulls Target Top Ten
The lower half of the top ten featured a tight battle between Red Bull’s second entry, McLaren, Audi, and Racing Bulls. According to the official classification, Isack Hadjar took sixth for Red Bull, followed by Liam Lawson in seventh for Racing Bulls and Oscar Piastri in eighth for McLaren. Nico Hülkenberg and Arvid Lindblad rounded out the top ten for Audi and Racing Bulls respectively.
Gabriel Bortoleto finished 11th for Audi, ahead of Esteban Ocon in 12th for Haas and Kimi Antonelli in 13th for Mercedes. Antonelli encountered multiple lock-ups and wide excursions as gusting winds disrupted car balance. Pierre Gasly, Ollie Bearman, Albon, Carlos Sainz, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Pérez, Fernando Alonso, and Colapinto filled the remaining positions.
Did you know? Lewis Hamilton has claimed nine poles at the Budapest circuit over his career.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the fastest driver during Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix?
According to official timing results, Lewis Hamilton set the fastest overall time of Friday’s sessions, clocking a 1m18.729s lap in Free Practice 2 for Ferrari.
Why did Lance Stroll miss Free Practice 2?
According to Aston Martin, the team could not repair the suspension damage sustained on Stroll’s car during Free Practice 1 in time for the afternoon session.
What caused the red flag in Free Practice 2?
According to race reports, Alpine driver Franco Colapinto lost control at the final hairpin, spinning backward into the barriers and damaging his rear wing.
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