The first practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix resulted in a tight battle atop the timesheets, with McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri leading the field once again. Norris secured the fastest lap, edging out Piastri by just 0.019 seconds during Friday’s FP1 at the Hungaroring.
Early Focus on Race Pace Sets the Stage
Most teams concentrated on race setup during the initial phase of FP1, running on C4 medium tires. Piastri established an early time of 1:18.249 on this compound, which Norris soon improved to 1:17.631. When the drivers switched to the C5 soft tires halfway through the session, Charles Leclerc briefly took the lead with a lap of 1:16.791.
Norris Claims Top Spot With Late Fast Lap
Leclerc’s time did not last long as Norris responded with a 1:16.052 lap, setting the fastest time of the session. Piastri made several attempts to match his teammate, posting laps of 1:16.194 and ultimately 1:16.071, narrowly missing first place. The session saw some drama when Norris locked up heavily at Turn 1 near the end.
Rookies Show Promising Form
Behind the McLaren duo, Leclerc settled in third place, followed by rookie Isack Hadjar in fourth and Lewis Hamilton in fifth. Hadjar stood out as one of the strongest rookies, with fellow newcomers Oliver Bearman and Kimi Antonelli finishing sixth and seventh respectively. The session also featured Paul Aron, stepping in for Nico Hülkenberg to meet rookie FP1 requirements, but his time was cut short after just nine laps due to technical issues with his car.
Challenges for Aston Martin and Alonso’s Absence
Felipe Drugovich replaced Fernando Alonso, who missed the session because of a back muscle problem, finishing 16th for Aston Martin. Alonso’s absence and Aron’s early technical difficulties highlighted some of the challenges teams faced during the session.
Implications for the Hungarian Grand Prix Weekend
This closely contested FP1 underlines the intense competition within McLaren as they continue to push forward this season. The narrow gap between Norris and Piastri suggests a strong internal rivalry that could impact qualifying and race strategies over the weekend. With rookies showing their potential and established drivers like Leclerc close behind, the Hungarian GP promises competitive racing ahead.
