Friday’s practice sessions at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring provided teams with valuable insights as they assessed their cars' pace and addressed various challenges. Ferrari showed strong performance, leading the timesheets in both sessions despite some minor setbacks. Other teams like Red Bull, McLaren, and Mercedes also revealed areas of progress and difficulty as they prepared for qualifying and race day.
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in the first practice session, although he encountered a late pit lane issue. Lewis Hamilton topped the second session after a slow start, demonstrating improvement as the day progressed. Red Bull remained competitive with Max Verstappen posting solid lap times but faced incidents, including a stewards investigation and contact with debris on track. Isack Hadjar had a quieter day, focusing on consistent running. McLaren introduced a new rear wing, with Lando Norris improving to third in the second session, while Oscar Piastri experienced initial struggles but remained optimistic about qualifying. Rookie Leonardo Fornaroli contributed useful data during his running.
Mercedes faced challenges with car balance and grip, with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli encountering difficulties. However, longer runs suggested some promise, and Frederik Vesti delivered a solid performance in the first session. The midfield battle appeared tight, with Racing Bulls drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad showing competitive pace, closely matched by Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto, who also demonstrated promising speed without reliability concerns.
Haas had a generally positive day, with Esteban Ocon consistently running near the top 12, while Oliver Bearman struggled with confidence. Ryo Hirakawa returned to the car for aerodynamic testing. Alpine encountered difficulties with grip and balance, and Franco Colapinto’s crash in the second session limited his track time. Pierre Gasly also found the second session challenging. Aston Martin debuted a significant upgrade package, with Fernando Alonso showing signs of progress, but Lance Stroll missed the second session due to a suspension failure. Williams continued to struggle with pace and stability, with Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon experiencing locking and braking issues, adding pressure as Aston Martin’s upgrades raise the competitive bar.
Cadillac had a steady day, with Valtteri Bottas returning and showing good pace, Colton Herta completing a clean first session, and Sergio Perez focusing on car balance. Pirelli’s engineers noted that tyre degradation could lead to uncertain race strategies, with a possible two-stop race scenario. The soft tyre compound demonstrated the best performance during practice, but track position remains a crucial factor for teams to consider.
The Friday sessions at the Hungaroring highlighted the ongoing efforts by teams to fine-tune their cars and address specific issues ahead of qualifying. Ferrari’s pace stood out despite minor setbacks, while Red Bull and McLaren showed signs of competitiveness. Mercedes’ balance challenges contrasted with promising long runs, and the midfield battle remains closely contested. Technical updates and reliability will continue to shape the teams’ approaches as the weekend progresses.
