Hungarian Grand Prix: Practice Session One Results
Lando Norris claimed the top spot in the first practice session of the Hungarian Grand Prix, narrowly edging out teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri. Norris set a benchmark time of 1m16.052s on soft tires, leading Piastri by 0.019 seconds at the session’s conclusion.
Norris initiated the session with an early soft tire run, while Piastri followed with two preparatory laps before his time attack. Despite posting the fastest first sector, Piastri’s overall performance saw him fall short of Norris’s pace. Both drivers returned to the pits for adjustments, with Norris experiencing a lock-up in the first turn during his second run, whereas Piastri produced a purple middle sector time.
Charles Leclerc secured third place with a significant improvement on worn tires, finishing 0.217 seconds off Norris’s time. The performance of Leclerc’s upgraded Ferrari SF-25 was notable, as it was faster than both McLaren drivers in the critical first sector.
Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar placed fourth, clocking in at 0.629 seconds off the pace, while Lewis Hamilton, struggling with car issues, rounded out the top five, just 0.053 seconds behind Hadjar. Hamilton reported an initial gap of over a second to Norris and faced significant difficulties in the session, culminating in a damaging lock-up.
Finnish rookie Oliver Bearman from Haas was sixth, followed closely by Mercedes teammates Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, who finished seventh and eighth, respectively. Russell, indicating braking issues, expressed frustration at the car’s handling by the end of the session.
Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, managed only ninth place, finishing 0.888 seconds off the pace, whereas Lance Stroll secured the tenth spot for Aston Martin, 0.906 seconds adrift.
Notable performances and struggles included:
- Alex Albon, 11th, setting a fastest first sector time.
- Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly took 12th and 13th, while Gasly encountered power issues early in the session.
- Carlos Sainz finished 15th with reported braking problems.
- Felipe Drugovich, filling in for Fernando Alonso, placed 16th and was 1.2 seconds off the lead, having received a late call-up due to Alonso’s back pain.
- Yuki Tsunoda ended the session 17th, citing a lack of grip.
Alpine-backed Sauber rookie Paul Aron struggled throughout, finishing last after experiencing a critical systems alarm that curtailed his participation.
This session highlights the competitive dynamics ahead of the main event, with McLaren showing strong form alongside unexpected challenges for established teams. Teams will seek to refine setups and address issues as the weekend progresses.
