McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri flex their muscles in the first free practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix, finishing with a show of force in first and second place respectively. For Max Verstappen, the opening session proves more challenging, finishing ninth, more than eight-tenths behind.
Verstappen is once again working with Gianpiero Lambiase in Hungary this weekend, the engineer who missed the Belgian Grand Prix due to personal circumstances. Although times and rankings don’t tell the whole story, the Red Bull car initially struggles in the first free practice. It is hoped that the Dutchman has been driving with relatively low power, and thus there is room for improvement in the other sessions. Verstappen makes a better impression in the long run in Hungary.
Fernando Alonso, however, is absent in the first part of the race weekend. He has a back injury and is being kept on the sidelines during training as a precaution. Felipe Drugovich is replacing him. Whether this will also be the case in the second free practice is not yet known at this time.
What is clear, however, is the speed of the McLarens. From the outset, Norris shows speed. Surprisingly, Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon are also initially doing well on the medium tires. Perhaps the two Williams drivers can pull off a stunt this weekend. The Grove-based team is currently the best team in the midfield.
Others are taking the prizes at the front. Just over halfway through the session, Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari sets a fast time on soft tires. He also makes a good impression in the long runs. However, the Monegasque said on Thursday that he did not expect much success in Hungary. How different it is for Norris and Piastri, who are also very fast on all types of compounds and have high expectations for the weekend. They finished the session without any problems in first and second place.
