Ferrari sets the pace in Budapest
Ferrari established an early advantage at the Hungaroring, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc securing a one-two finish in the second practice session of the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Italian team’s performance confirmed pre-weekend expectations that their chassis, optimized for high-downforce cornering, would excel on the tight, technical circuit.
Mercedes, currently leading the world championship, faced a difficult Friday. George Russell finished the second session in fifth, while teammate Kimi Antonelli placed 13th. The team reported a 0.9s deficit to the front-runners, with Russell noting that the car's balance was compromised by track surface degradation and shifting wind conditions. The Hungaroring’s recent resurfacing has introduced significant bumps, further complicating the mechanical grip profiles for the field.
Competitive landscape and technical challenges
While Ferrari led the timesheets, the rest of the grid remains tightly packed. Lando Norris placed third in a heavily-upgraded McLaren, followed by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in fourth. Drivers across the paddock highlighted the unpredictable nature of the track surface, which is reportedly breaking up in the final corners, creating a volatile environment for tire management and aerodynamic stability.
Mercedes remains focused on data analysis overnight to address their single-lap pace. Despite the current gap, team principals and drivers alike have cautioned against reading too much into Friday results, citing the potential for performance shifts ahead of Saturday’s qualifying session.
What to watch next
The Hungarian GP continues on Saturday with the final practice session at 11:30 am, followed by qualifying at 3:00 pm. Sunday’s race is scheduled for 2:00 pm. Teams will be monitoring wind direction closely, as shifts in atmospheric pressure are expected to influence the downforce balance of the cars throughout the remainder of the weekend.
