Lewis Hamilton led teammate Charles Leclerc to a Ferrari one-two in Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix, signaling strong form for the Scuderia at the Hungaroring. Hamilton was 0.148 seconds ahead of Leclerc, with McLaren’s Lando Norris third, 0.499 seconds off the pace, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fourth. Ferrari looked in good shape on a track that lends itself to the car’s strong cornering performance. Mercedes, however, appeared to have some work to do, with George Russell in fifth, 0.933 seconds off the pace, and championship leader Kimi Antonelli in 13th. Antonelli did not complete a qualifying simulation lap in the second session after his first attempt was abandoned when Franco Colapinto crashed his Alpine at the last corner, and his second came to grief after an error at the chicane. Antonelli was complaining throughout the session about his car’s balance. Fernando Alonso ended the day 19th fastest in the new Aston Martin, 2.990 seconds off the pace. Team principal Adrian Newey described the first outing for the car, which is new apart from its engine, gearbox, and front suspension, as “promising.” Alonso had a lap nearly 0.4 seconds faster ruled out for track limits at the final corner, but the team made a significant step forward from where they have spent most of the season. Newey said: “Provisional results are promising. It’s only part of the package, so we’ll have some more steps in Zandvoort and then further in Monza and Baku. It’s the first part of our planned upgrade. We’re very short on parts, so we’re being careful with it and trying to learn all about it.” Engine partner Honda is introducing a new engine at the Dutch Grand Prix after the summer break. The day was not all positive for Aston Martin, however, as Alonso’s teammate Lance Stroll spun out of the first session with what initially appeared to be a rear suspension failure. He was unable to take part in the second session because there was not enough time to repair the car. Team representative Pedro de la Rosa confirmed: “It is a suspension failure. We were confident it would not happen in Fernando’s car. That’s why we sent him out. Because of the lack of spares we couldn’t repair his car on time.” Ferrari’s strong performance in practice positions them as the team to beat heading into qualifying, with Hamilton looking comfortable in the car and Leclerc close behind. McLaren and Red Bull will need to find improvements if they are to challenge the Ferraris, while Mercedes face a significant task to unlock pace for qualifying and the race. Aston Martin’s upgrades offer hope for the future, but they remain off the pace of the frontrunners. The Hungaroring, known for its twisty nature, often rewards cars with strong downforce and cornering ability, which played to Ferrari’s strengths. As the weekend progresses, teams will be fine-tuning their setups for qualifying and race day, with the battle for pole position and victory set to be a closely contested affair. The weather conditions could also play a role, with forecasts suggesting the possibility of rain, adding another layer of unpredictability to the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Fans are eagerly anticipating the action, with the Hungaroring historically producing exciting races. Ferrari will be looking to convert their practice pace into a strong result, while their rivals will be working hard to close the gap and challenge for the top step of the podium. The stage is set for a thrilling weekend of Formula 1 action in Hungary.
