Leclerc leads Verstappen in Hungary FP1 before Ferrari issue, Aston Martin faces mechanical failure
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari recorded the fastest time in Free Practice 1 ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. He finished ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Leclerc set a time of 1m 19.075s, placing him half a second clear of Verstappen. However, his session concluded prematurely due to a mechanical issue that stopped his Ferrari in the pit lane entry with seven minutes remaining.
The Hungaroring circuit, which is hosting its 40th Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend, saw many teams introduce upgrades. The session began at 1330 local time, with five rookie drivers participating. Among them was Fred Vesti, who drove Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes while the Drivers’ Championship leader observed.
Practice Session Highlights
Early in the session, George Russell initially topped the times with a 1m 22.056s on medium Pirelli tyres. Leclerc then improved with a 1m 20.884s as the track conditions improved. Verstappen later moved to the top with a 1m 20.788s, despite reporting issues with downshifts. Both Verstappen and Carlos Sainz were noted for driving erratically, an incident that will be investigated after the session.
Leclerc faced a brief obstruction from Hamilton at Turn 12 before setting a new benchmark of 1m 20.287s. Hamilton then moved into second place, though he expressed concerns about his car’s stiff ride. Other drivers, including Colton Herta in a Cadillac and Alex Albon’s Williams, experienced lock-ups at Turn 1.
Russell was the first to switch to soft tyres, setting a 1m 20.066s, but Verstappen quickly surpassed this with a 1m 19.559s. Leclerc, using the red-walled tyre, further lowered the best time to 1m 19.075s. Russell also had a significant lock-up at Turn 1, contributing to his complaints about the ride quality of his Mercedes.
Aston Martin’s Mechanical Issue
The session was interrupted by a red flag with just over 20 minutes remaining when Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin stopped at the exit of Turn 3. The team reported a suspected left-rear suspension failure, which caused him to spin. Adrian Newey, Aston Martin team boss, later stated that the failure was unexpected and not related to the car’s recent upgrade. The team is currently investigating the cause of the issue.
Despite Stroll’s incident, his teammate Fernando Alonso showed respectable pace in the sister car. Newey mentioned that the area involved in Stroll’s failure had not been changed as part of the upgrade, and the team was short on spare parts. Alonso was advised to avoid kerbs during his push laps, a measure taken to ensure accurate aero data acquisition rather than due to an issue with the upgrade itself. Oscillations were observed on both drivers’ onboard cameras, suggesting a return of Honda engine-related vibrations that the team encountered earlier in the year.
Newey also revealed that the Aston Martin chassis overhaul is a multi-phase plan. The first part debuted in Hungary, with a second phase scheduled for Zandvoort after the summer break, coinciding with Honda’s engine upgrade. A third phase of the chassis upgrade is planned for either Monza or Baku in September. Newey expressed confidence that these upgrades represent a significant step forward for the team, aiming for respectability after what he described as a “nightmare” start to the season.
Final Practice Standings
Leclerc maintained his fastest time until the chequered flag, despite his late mechanical problem. Verstappen finished second, followed by Hamilton. Isack Hadjar secured fourth, placing both Red Bulls in the top four. The top ten was completed by Russell, Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), Vesti, Nico Hulkenberg (Audi), and the two Racing Bulls drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson.
| Pos. | Driver | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Leclerc LEC | 1:19.075 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen VER | +0.484s |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton HAM | +0.543s |
| 4 | Isack Hadjar HAD | +0.922s |
| 5 | George Russell RUS | +0.991s |
Other notable participants included Lando Norris in 11th, followed by Esteban Ocon (Haas), Alonso, Pierre Gasly (Alpine), and Albon. Leonardo Fornaroli, the reigning Formula 2 champion, tested a new ‘flip-flop’-style rear wing for McLaren. The remaining drivers in the order before FP2 included Ryo Hirakawa (Haas), Sergio Perez (Cadillac), Paul Aron (Alpine), Herta, Stroll, and Sainz.
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Source: formula1.com
