Charles Leclerc of Ferrari recorded the fastest time in Free Practice 1 ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. He finished ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Leclerc set a time of 1m 19.075s, placing him half a second clear of Verstappen, before experiencing a mechanical issue that brought his car to a halt in the pit lane entry during the final 10 minutes of the session.
The session saw several teams introduce upgrades in Budapest. Drivers immediately took to the Hungaroring circuit, which is set to host its 40th Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend. Among the participants were five rookie drivers, including Fred Vesti in Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes, as the Drivers’ Championship leader observed the opening one-hour session.
Early in the session, George Russell initially topped the times with a 1m 22.056s on medium Pirelli tyres. Leclerc then improved with a 1m 20.884s as track conditions improved. Verstappen later took the lead with a 1m 20.788s, despite reporting issues with downshifts. Leclerc also faced a brief blockage by Hamilton before setting a new benchmark of 1m 20.287s.
Hamilton moved into second place, though he noted his car’s ride was too stiff. Lock-ups were observed for Colton Herta in a Cadillac and Alex Albon’s Williams at Turn 1. Russell, on soft tyres, set a time of 1m 20.066s, which was quickly surpassed by Verstappen’s 1m 19.559s. Leclerc then set the fastest time of the session with his 1m 19.075s on soft tyres.
Mechanical Issues and Upgrades
The session was interrupted by a red flag with just over 20 minutes remaining when Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin stopped at the exit of Turn 3. The team reported a suspected left-rear suspension failure, which caused Stroll to spin. The session resumed with 17 minutes left, allowing teams to continue with qualifying simulations. Carlos Sainz also experienced a significant double-front lock-up at Turn 1.
Aston Martin team boss Adrian Newey addressed the media regarding the mechanical failure on Stroll’s car. He stated that the area involved in the failure had not been changed as part of the car’s recent upgrade package, making the incident unexpected. The team is currently investigating the cause. Newey also mentioned that the team is short on spare parts due to changes in cladding and other minor adjustments.
Newey confirmed that the upgrade package for Aston Martin is being introduced in phases. The first part debuted in Hungary, with a second phase planned for Zandvoort after the summer break, coinciding with Honda’s engine upgrade. A third phase of chassis upgrades is expected to arrive at either Monza or Baku in September. Newey described the provisional results of the upgrades as promising, noting that while they may not make the car the quickest, they represent a good step forward.
Team Performance and Driver Feedback
Leclerc remained the fastest at the chequered flag, but his session ended prematurely with seven minutes remaining due to a problem with his Ferrari at Turn 13, leading him to stop at the pit lane entry. Verstappen finished second, followed by Hamilton. Isack Hadjar secured a top-four position for Red Bull. Other drivers in the top 10 included Russell, Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), Vesti, Nico Hulkenberg (Audi), Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), and Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls).
| 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 |
Lando Norris finished in P11, followed by Esteban Ocon (Haas), Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), and Albon. Leonardo Fornaroli, the reigning Formula 2 champion, participated for McLaren, testing a new rear wing design. Other drivers who completed the order ahead of FP2 included Ryo Hirakawa (Haas), Sergio Perez (Cadillac), Paul Aron (Alpine), Herta, Stroll, and Sainz.
Newey also addressed concerns about returning Honda oscillations, which were visible on both Aston Martin drivers’ onboard cameras during FP1. He indicated that this is a matter for Honda to resolve, as they are working on a solution based on their data. Alonso was advised to avoid kerbs during his push laps, which Newey clarified was for optimal aero data acquisition rather than an issue with the upgrade itself.
Newey expressed hope that the B-spec car’s debut would mark an end to what he described as a “complete nightmare” for the team in recent races. He stated that the immediate goal is to achieve a level of respectability and then continue to move forward. Alonso’s performance with the upgrade package is considered important for his continued presence with the team for 2027, with Newey confident in their ongoing relationship.
The next session, FP2, is scheduled for later on Friday.
Source: formula1.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter