Lewis Hamilton led a Ferrari one-two in Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix, with teammate Charles Leclerc trailing by 0.148 seconds. McLaren’s Lando Norris secured third place, 0.499 seconds behind Hamilton. The practice sessions saw Ferrari emerge as a strong contender, particularly given the track’s emphasis on cornering performance rather than raw engine power.
Mercedes experienced a challenging day, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli finishing 13th after a disrupted run on soft tyres. His first qualifying simulation lap was abandoned due to a crash involving Franco Colapinto’s Alpine, and his second was cut short by an error. George Russell, also from Mercedes, placed fifth, 0.933 seconds off the pace.
Aston Martin’s new upgrade shows promise
The new Aston Martin car was a significant talking point, with driver Fernando Alonso describing it as feeling “much better.” Despite finishing 19th, 2.990 seconds behind the leader, Alonso noted that a faster lap was disallowed due to track limits. He indicated that the car felt “more glued to the ground and easier to drive to an extent when you are in control of the grip in the corners,” suggesting increased predictability.
Alonso expressed a “positive atmosphere in the team now,” particularly with a new Honda engine anticipated for the next race, the Dutch Grand Prix, following Formula 1’s summer break. The upgrade’s performance aligned with expectations, which is seen as encouraging for future developments and the car for the upcoming year.
However, the day was not without issues for Aston Martin. Alonso’s teammate, Lance Stroll, spun out during the first session due to what appeared to be a rear suspension failure. This incident prevented him from participating in the second session as there was insufficient time to repair the car due to a lack of spare parts.
Ferrari’s strong start and Mercedes’ concerns
Ferrari had been expected to perform well at the Hungaroring, a circuit where their car’s cornering strengths are advantageous. Leclerc, despite the team’s strong showing, remained cautious about the results, stating that the gap seen in practice might not hold in qualifying. He emphasized the need for the team to “do everything perfect” in the upcoming sessions.
Mercedes drivers voiced concerns about the track conditions and their car’s balance. Russell described the resurfaced sections of the track as “super bumpy” and “breaking up,” affecting driving. He also noted that the car’s single-lap pace “didn’t look great,” though long-run performance appeared more competitive. He acknowledged that Ferrari’s strong pace, which Mercedes had anticipated, had materialized.
Hamilton commented on the challenging conditions, including wind that made driving tricky and a bumpy track. He stated that the car felt improved in the second practice session, but further areas needed refinement. The team plans to analyze data overnight to enhance performance. Ferrari’s team principal, Frederic Vasseur, also maintained a measured outlook, emphasizing that Friday’s results do not guarantee pole position or a race win.
Other teams also observed Ferrari’s speed. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, who was sixth fastest, noted Ferrari’s expected quickness on such a track. Oscar Piastri of McLaren, who finished eighth, also commented on Ferrari’s rapid pace in both sessions. The Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 3pm.
Source: bbc.co.uk
George Hartwell is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB.org, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with twelve years of reporting experience. He reported on West Country football before national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of the West of England and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Bristol, he watches grassroots football and writes a tactics column. “Tactics tell you more than any scoreline.”