The Hungarian Grand Prix weekend commenced with a sensational display of speed from McLaren, as Lando Norris set the pace in the opening practice session, closely followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri, signaling a potentially dominant performance from the Woking-based outfit.
Norris, demonstrating exceptional form, wasted no time in asserting his authority on the challenging Hungaroring circuit. Fresh from their intense battle in Belgium, the young Briton rapidly found his rhythm, clocking the fastest times on both medium and soft compound tyres during the crucial initial run, showcasing McLaren’s strong car development.
Oscar Piastri, the reigning Belgian Grand Prix victor, proved equally formidable, finishing a mere 0.019 seconds adrift of Norris. This remarkably tight margin highlights the intense intra-team rivalry and McLaren F1’s impressive competitive edge heading into the crucial pre-summer break race weekend, with Piastri aiming to extend his 16-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
Hungary holds a special significance for Piastri, as it was the venue of his maiden Grand Prix victory just twelve months prior. That memorable race also featured a notable team radio exchange with Norris, underscoring the fierce yet ultimately positive dynamic within the McLaren garage, which has reportedly strengthened since then.
Esteemed F1 analyst Martin Brundle remarked on Norris’s exceptional control during his fastest lap, describing the car as being “on rails,” akin to a Scalextric model. While Norris enjoyed a clear advantage in this session, Brundle also pointed out Piastri’s promising pace on a set of used soft tyres, indicating significant underlying speed from both McLaren drivers.
Beyond the McLaren one-two, other teams faced varying fortunes. Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar continued to impress by securing fourth position, while Lewis Hamilton endured a challenging session with his Mercedes, struggling with braking issues that led to multiple lock-ups and left him 0.682 seconds off the leading pace, prompting frustrated radio messages.
Notably, championship leader Max Verstappen, fresh off confirming his commitment to Red Bull until 2026, could only manage ninth position. Despite Red Bull introducing a new front wing for the Budapest circuit, it failed to provide an immediate performance uplift, with Verstappen nearly 0.9 seconds slower than Norris, suggesting a tougher challenge for the reigning champions.
The Hungarian Grand Prix is poised to deliver thrilling action as the final race before the Formula 1 summer break. Fans can anticipate intense competition across all sessions, from the F3 and F2 Feature Races to the main Grand Prix, as teams and drivers push to gain momentum before the mid-season pause, with McLaren clearly setting a strong benchmark early on.
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