Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time during the second free practice session at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, narrowly edging out Charles Leclerc in a challenging afternoon on the Hungaroring. The session highlighted Ferrari’s strong pace as both drivers led the timesheets at different points, despite tricky conditions affecting several teams.
Hamilton’s best lap of 1:18.729 put him 0.148 seconds ahead of Leclerc, who briefly topped the times before Hamilton reclaimed the top spot. Lando Norris secured third fastest for McLaren, followed by Max Verstappen and George Russell. The session saw multiple teams running upgrades, including Aston Martin’s revised car and McLaren’s new package, while Alpine faced setbacks after Franco Colapinto crashed at the final corner, bringing out a red flag.
The conditions during FP2 were difficult, with increasing wind and low grip levels causing balance issues for several drivers such as Pierre Gasly and George Russell. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was absent from the session due to a suspension issue sustained in FP1, leaving Fernando Alonso as the sole representative for the team. Ferrari’s qualifying simulations suggested they remain the team to beat, with both Hamilton and Leclerc showing consistent speed throughout the hour-long session.
Max Verstappen encountered some difficulties after hitting debris from Alonso’s Aston Martin, which affected his running and placed him fourth on the timesheets. Rookie drivers also took part in FP2, stepping in for their FP1 counterparts, but some struggled to adapt to the challenging track conditions. Meanwhile, McLaren’s and Aston Martin’s upgrade packages drew attention as both teams sought to improve their performance through the weekend.
Overall, the session underlined Ferrari’s competitiveness on this technical and demanding circuit, with Hamilton and Leclerc setting the pace despite the unsettled conditions. The difficulties faced by other drivers in managing car balance highlighted the Hungaroring’s reputation for testing both driver skill and team setup.
With the second practice session complete, the data gathered will be crucial for teams as they prepare for qualifying and the race. The performance shown by Ferrari suggests they will remain a key contender, while other teams continue to refine their packages in response to the evolving conditions at the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
