Lando Norris set the fastest times during both practice sessions on Friday at the Hungarian Grand Prix, showcasing McLaren’s strong pace. Despite topping the timesheets, Norris admitted he was frustrated with his overall performance after a turbulent second session.
He outpaced his McLaren teammate and current Drivers’ Championship leader Oscar Piastri by 0.291 seconds, with McLaren being the only team to record lap times under one minute and 15 seconds. While Norris trails Piastri by 16 points in the standings, he recognized that the practice sessions provided valuable insights into his car’s behavior for the weekend.
Errors and Challenges Impact Norris’s Second Practice Run
Although Norris described his car as feeling “pretty good” since the first lap, he acknowledged mistakes during the second practice session. He aborted a flying lap following an error at turn two and ran wide when a front wheel touched the grass, which disrupted his rhythm and lap times.
Despite these setbacks, Norris remained positive about his understanding of the car’s dynamics, stating,
“Good understanding. I know what I want from the car,”
but also admitting that achieving his ideal setup might be challenging during the weekend.
McLaren’s Season Dominance Continues with Multiple Victories and One-Two Finishes
McLaren’s form this season remains dominant, having won 10 of the 13 races so far. The team is closing in on their record for the most wins in a single season, set at 15 back in 1998, and is poised to match their second-best total from 1984. Notably, McLaren has already secured three consecutive one-two finishes at Austria, Great Britain, and Belgium this year.
This streak highlights McLaren’s current competitive edge as they aim to extend their run of consecutive one-two results. Previously, the team managed four successive one-two finishes between Mexico and France in 1998 with Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna behind the wheel.
Other Practice Session Highlights: Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Red Bull
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari claimed third fastest in practice, just ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso. Alonso missed the first practice due to a back muscle injury sustained at last weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix, with Felipe Drugovich substituting for him temporarily.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen faced a difficult day, finishing only 14th in the session. He came under scrutiny from race stewards after discarding a towel from his cockpit while on track, which remained on the circuit until the session ended. This prompted an official warning for Red Bull regarding an unsafe car condition.
Looking Ahead: Norris and McLaren Focus on Sustaining Their Competitive Advantage
Despite his self-acknowledged mistakes during practice, Norris appears determined to fine-tune his approach as McLaren pursues continued success throughout the rest of the season. His focus on refining car performance reflects the team’s broader ambition to maintain its winning momentum and challenge firmly for both driver and constructor titles.
The Hungarian Grand Prix will test Norris’s ability to convert his promising practice pace into consistent race performance, while McLaren seeks to further consolidate its dominant position amid strong competition from Ferrari, Aston Martin, and Red Bull.
