The Hungaroring is hosting the final Formula 1 race weekend before the summer break, with teams and drivers gathering in Budapest. The circuit is also marking the 40th anniversary of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
During the second practice session, Lando Norris initially set the fastest time on soft C5 tires with a 1:19.228 lap, followed by Max Verstappen, who was 0.193 seconds behind. However, Lewis Hamilton later took the lead in the session with a time of 1:19.648. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, was slower.
The session saw several incidents, including a crash by Franco Colapinto, who lost the rear of his Alpine and hit the barriers at the final corner. Colapinto was reported to be unharmed, and the session was temporarily halted. Lance Stroll of Aston Martin also experienced a suspension failure, preventing him from participating in the second practice. His teammate, Fernando Alonso, was 14th on the timesheets.
Practice Session Highlights
Kimi Antonelli, the championship leader, had his flying lap interrupted by Colapinto’s crash, placing him ninth on the timesheets. Antonelli, along with Oscar Piastri, Oliver Bearman, Franco Colapinto, and Valtteri Bottas, began their weekend sessions in second practice after rookies participated in the first session. Antonelli later reported issues with his car, stating he nearly spun twice on braking due to locking rear tires.
In the first practice session, Charles Leclerc was the fastest, ahead of Max Verstappen by 0.484 seconds. Lewis Hamilton finished third, more than half a second behind Leclerc. Fred Vesti, who replaced Antonelli in the first practice, was the highest-finishing rookie in seventh place.
An early incident in first practice involved Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen at Turn 12. Sainz’s Williams reportedly obstructed Verstappen, who was on a flying lap. Verstappen gestured in frustration, and Sainz later explained his radio cable was disconnected, making him unaware of Verstappen’s approach. Stewards flagged both drivers for erratic driving, with Verstappen cleared and Sainz receiving a warning.
Team and Driver Challenges
Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were seventh and eighth on the timesheets in second practice. Russell expressed dissatisfaction with his car, describing it as “dreadful, so out of balance.” Pierre Gasly of Alpine also noted that his car felt worse than in the first practice. Alpine and Racing Bulls are currently tied on 61 points in the constructors’ championship, indicating a close contest for fifth place.
The battle between Mercedes and Ferrari is intensifying. While Mercedes has had a dominant car this year, Ferrari has shown strong performance, winning one of the last two Grands Prix with Charles Leclerc at Silverstone. Ferrari is 73 points behind Mercedes in the Teams’ standings. Leclerc believes the Hungaroring’s layout could suit Ferrari, stating, “On paper it’s a race where we are closer than the last two races and we finished first and second.”
Despite the optimism, Leclerc cautioned against complacency, referencing a previous race in Monaco where expectations were not met. The Turn One and the final corner of the Hungaroring have posed challenges for several drivers during the practice sessions.
The final F1 race before the summer break continues with practice sessions in Budapest.
Source: bbc.com
