hamilton leads ferrari
| |

Hamilton leads Ferrari One-Two in Hungarian grand …

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.

Similar Posts

  • | |

    Nirmal Purja’s body recovered after deadly Broad Peak avalanche

    Renowned British-Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja’s body has been recovered from Broad Peak in Pakistan, days after a devastating avalanche claimed the lives of members of his international climbing team. Rescue officials confirmed that Purja’s remains were found at an altitude of around 5,700 metres on Sunday. Search teams also located three additional bodies on the mountain, although their identities have not yet been officially confirmed. The fatal avalanche struck the 8,047-metre Broad Peak in the Karakoram mountain range during a climbing expedition. Authorities earlier confirmed that at least 10 climbers from different countries lost their lives in the tragedy. Purja, 43, was leading the multinational expedition when the avalanche occurred. Before his body was recovered, rescue teams had already retrieved the remains of American climber Mallory Geis, Omani mountaineer Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, and Nepalese climber Pur Bahadur Gurung. Rescue operations continue in the difficult high-altitude terrain, with officials working to recover the remaining victims. The recovered bodies are being transported to a nearby base camp before further arrangements are made. Purja was regarded as one of the world’s greatest mountaineers. Born in Nepal, he later served in the British Army and spent several years with the elite Special Forces before pursuing a career in high-altitude climbing. He gained global recognition in 2019 after completing the ascent of all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres in just 189 days, breaking the previous world record by several years. His remarkable achievement was later featured in the widely acclaimed Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible. At the time of the accident, Purja was attempting another historic milestone by becoming the first climber to summit all 14 peaks above 8,000 metres twice without supplemental oxygen. His death has prompted tributes from leaders and members of the international mountaineering community. Britain’s Prince William expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing Purja as an outstanding soldier and one of the world’s finest climbers. Nepalese officials also praised his courage, determination and lasting contribution to mountaineering.

  • | |

    Judge walks out after uproar in Aleema case

    RAWALPINDI: An anti-terrorism court judge in Rawalpindi left the courtroom after expressing anger over repeated disruptions during the hearing of a case against PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan. The case relates to a case registered over the November 26 protest. The hearing turned tense when the prosecution began questioning Aleema Khan and her witness about property-related matters. During the proceedings, prosecutor Zaheer Shah questioned Aleema Khan’s witness, Fatahullah Barky, about whether he was aware of alleged properties owned by Aleema Khan abroad. Defence lawyer Faisal Malik immediately objected. He argued that the question was not relevant to the case being heard by the court.The prosecutor then questioned Aleema Khan directly about alleged properties in Dubai and New Jersey. Aleema Khan rejected the allegations. She said she did not own any illegal property.She maintained that the properties had been described as benami assets in an earlier legal dispute. The prosecutor then asked whether the Supreme Court had imposed a fine on her in connection with the alleged benami properties. Aleema Khan replied that former chief justice Saqib Nisar had issued a decision that, according to her, was contrary to the law. She further claimed that a tribunal later cleared her in the matter. The prosecutor also asked whether she had paid a Rs30 million fine following the Supreme Court’s orders.Aleema Khan said that Rs29.4 million had been deposited. She added that the tribunal subsequently cleared her. During the hearing, Aleema Khan asked the court to record her statement. The court began recording her statement. However, the defence counsel raised another objection.The repeated objections and arguments created a noisy situation inside the courtroom. Judge Amjad Ali Shah expressed strong displeasure over the disruption. He questioned the defence counsel over the objection and said that if the accused wanted her statement recorded, there was no reason for the court not to record it.The judge’s remarks came as arguments continued between the prosecution and defence. The situation eventually became so tense that Judge Amjad Ali Shah left his seat and walked out of the courtroom. The proceedings were subsequently disrupted and the hearing was adjourned.Further proceedings in the case will take place on a later date. The hearing highlighted tensions between the prosecution and defence over the relevance of questions being asked during the proceedings

  • | | | |

    Rome talks continue despite fresh Israel-Lebanon c…

    JERUSALEM: Fresh violence erupted along the Israel-Lebanon border on Wednesday after two Israeli soldiers were killed during a military operation in southern Lebanon, prompting retaliatory Israeli airstrikes even as diplomatic talks aimed at reducing tensions continued in Rome. The latest escalation comes despite a US-brokered security arrangement reached in June, which was intended to ease hostilities between Israel and Lebanon following months of cross-border clashes. According to Israeli authorities, the two soldiers were killed and four others wounded when an explosion ripped through a building they had entered during a security sweep inside southern Lebanon. Israeli Army Radio, citing a security source, reported that investigators were still trying to determine whether the explosive device had been planted before or after the ceasefire agreement. Soon after the incident, the Israeli military described the explosion as a “blatant ceasefire violation” and launched a series of retaliatory strikes targeting areas in southern Lebanon. Lebanese officials said one civilian was killed and at least 12 others were injured after Israeli strikes hit the town of Tibnin, around 25 kilometres from Mansouri. Before the attack, the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for residents in the area—the first such online warning directed at Lebanon in more than a month. However, Israel’s tone appeared to soften a day later. In a statement mourning the soldiers, Defence Minister Israel Katz did not directly accuse Hezbollah or refer to a ceasefire violation, signalling that Israeli authorities may be seeking to avoid a wider military escalation. Israel continues to maintain a buffer zone inside southern Lebanon, saying its forces are operating there to eliminate threats posed by the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement and to enhance border security. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts remain underway in Rome, where Israeli and Lebanese officials are participating in talks that began on Tuesday and are scheduled to continue through Thursday. The negotiations are focused on strengthening the June security arrangement and preventing further violence along the volatile frontier. The renewed bloodshed underscores the fragile nature of the ceasefire and highlights the challenges facing mediators seeking lasting stability in the region. While both sides have expressed interest in preventing a broader conflict, sporadic violence continues to threaten the progress made through recent diplomatic initiatives. With negotiations still in progress and tensions remaining high, regional observers fear that any further incidents along the border could quickly undermine the fragile peace and derail ongoing efforts to maintain security between the neighbouring countries.

  • | | |

    Gulf conflict pushes oil above $100

    Global oil prices continued their sharp upward trend on Friday as escalating conflict in the Gulf region raised fresh concerns about energy supplies and the outlook for the world economy. The sustained rise in crude prices has increased fears of renewed inflation, unsettled financial markets and strengthened expectations that central banks may keep interest rates higher for a longer period. Brent crude was trading at around $100 per barrel after briefly crossing $102, its highest level in nearly two months. Oil prices have climbed by almost 40% during the month, driven by growing concerns that the conflict could disrupt major shipping routes used for transporting crude oil. The latest increase comes as military tensions involving the United States, Iran and the Iran-backed Houthi movement continue to intensify. Attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea have heightened concerns about the safety of one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes. At the same time, uncertainty surrounding shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has added to worries over global oil supplies. Analysts say the combination of risks to both the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz has significantly increased market uncertainty. Any prolonged disruption in these waterways could reduce oil exports from the Middle East and place additional pressure on global energy markets. The rise in crude prices has also revived concerns about inflation. Higher oil prices generally increase transportation, manufacturing and production costs, which can eventually lead to higher prices for goods and services. Economists warn that this could slow progress in reducing inflation across many countries. Global financial markets reacted cautiously to the latest developments. Major Asian stock markets recorded notable losses as investors worried about the combined impact of geopolitical tensions, rising energy costs and uncertainty over future economic growth. Investors increasingly shifted towards safer assets amid concerns that market volatility could continue. The outlook for monetary policy has also changed. Financial markets now expect that major central banks, including the US Federal Reserve, could delay planned interest rate cuts or even consider further rate increases if higher energy prices continue to fuel inflation.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *