The Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix kicked off with intense practice sessions, revealing an exciting outlook for the weekend. Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris dominated the early practices, while Sergio Pérez faced difficulties.
FP1: Sainz Takes the Lead
In the first free practice session, Carlos Sainz stood out by setting the fastest time with 1:18.713, surpassing Max Verstappen’s Red Bull by 0.276 seconds. Sainz, driving a Ferrari, displayed impressive performance, placing Ferrari at the top at the start of the day.
FP1 Results:
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari): 1:18.713
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 1:19.089
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): 1:19.191
- George Russell (Mercedes): 1:20.083
- Zhou Guanyu (Sauber): 1:20.315
Sergio Pérez had a challenging start, beginning with a time of 1:21.144, and only managed to improve to 1:20.056 to enter the top 10 by the end of the session. Alex Albon, driving a Williams, briefly held the top position before being surpassed by Russell and finally by Sainz.
FP2: Lando Norris Sets the Pace
The second free practice session saw Lando Norris of McLaren take the lead with an impressive time of 1:17.788. Norris was the only driver to go below 1:18, ahead of Verstappen and Sainz.
FP2 Results:
- Lando Norris (McLaren): 1:17.788
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 1:18.031
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari): 1:18.519
- Sergio Pérez (Red Bull): 1:18.568
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): 1:18.569
Fernando Alonso, despite a difficult start in FP1, improved his performance in FP2, securing a place in the top 10. However, an incident involving Charles Leclerc caused a red flag that affected his session.
Reactions and Updates
Carlos Sainz: The Spanish driver commented on the importance of being competitive from the start of the weekend, emphasizing the need to maintain performance in both qualifying and the race.
Sergio Pérez: The Mexican faced issues with his Red Bull but showed signs of improvement in FP2 by securing a position within the top ten.
Fernando Alonso: Although he improved his time in FP2, Alonso expressed frustration at not achieving a better performance due to balance issues with the AMR24.
Team Updates:
- Aston Martin: Introduced new parts on the AMR24 to enhance performance.
- Red Bull: Made adjustments to the RB20 with circuit-specific improvements.
- Mercedes: Implemented an update to the rear of the W15.
The Hungarian Grand Prix promises to be a closely contested race with a mix of strategies and variable conditions. The second free practice session has sent a clear message: the competition will be fierce.
