Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc gave Ferrari a perfect start to the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend by finishing first and second in Friday’s practice sessions.
Hamilton was quickest in the second practice session with a best lap of 1:18.729, finishing 0.148 seconds ahead of teammate Leclerc. The British driver, who has won a record eight races at the Hungaroring, will now aim for a ninth victory at the circuit and a 10th pole position in Saturday’s qualifying.
Leclerc had been the fastest driver in the opening practice session, almost half a second clear of the rest of the field, before a mechanical problem ended his running early. McLaren’s reigning world champion Lando Norris was third quickest in the second session, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished fourth.
Mercedes struggled throughout the day. George Russell was fifth in both sessions but nearly one second slower than Hamilton. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli was only 13th after missing the first session, with reserve driver Frederik Vesti taking his place.
Antonelli complained over the team radio that the car was difficult to control under braking, while Russell said the car felt badly balanced. Hamilton had also been unhappy with Ferrari’s handling in the first session, but the team made improvements before the afternoon, allowing him to set the fastest time.
Despite Ferrari’s strong performance, both Hamilton and Leclerc believe Mercedes could still be the team to beat in qualifying.
Aston Martin had a mixed day with its upgraded car. Lance Stroll spun off during the first session and missed the second while the team repaired damage to the rear suspension. Fernando Alonso finished 13th in the first session but dropped to 19th in the second, leaving questions over how much the upgrades have improved the car.
The second practice session was briefly stopped after Alpine driver Franco Colapinto crashed at the final corner. The Argentine was unhurt in the incident.
