Hamilton tops second practice in Hungary
Lewis Hamilton concluded Friday’s practice sessions for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the top of the timings, finishing ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris in Free Practice 2. Hamilton improved his time to secure the top position, ultimately posting a time of 1m 18.729s.
The session saw several teams working on upgrades, including Aston Martin, after Lance Stroll experienced a suspension issue in the first practice. Stroll was unable to participate in the second practice due to insufficient time for repairs, leaving Fernando Alonso as the sole representative for Aston Martin during that session.
Leclerc initially set a benchmark of 1m 20.103s on medium tyres before Hamilton went faster. The Ferrari driver later returned to the top spot with a 1m 18.877s lap, with Hamilton slotting in just 0.037s behind. Hamilton then further improved his time to secure the lead.
Team performances and challenges
The conditions were breezy, and several drivers reported issues with their cars. Pierre Gasly noted that “something feels wrong on the car, it’s extremely bad,” specifically mentioning a problem in Turn 12. George Russell described his Mercedes as feeling “dreadful” and “so out of balance,” while his team-mate also questioned his car’s behaviour, stating he “almost spun twice on braking.”
Leclerc also encountered difficulties, experiencing three lock-ups within the first 20 minutes of the session before returning to the pits. The wind was noted as a factor affecting car balance around the circuit.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull secured fourth place after hitting debris from Alonso’s Aston Martin. Following Verstappen were Russell, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson. Oscar Piastri finished seventh, with Nico Hulkenberg and Arvid Lindblad completing the top 10.
Kimi Antonelli, who did not complete a qualifying simulation lap in the second session, was 13th fastest. His first attempt was interrupted by a red flag following a crash involving Franco Colapinto, and his second was affected by an error at the chicane. Antonelli reported issues with rear brake locking during the session.
Colapinto’s crash occurred at the final corner where he lost the rear of his Alpine and spun into the barrier, necessitating overnight repairs for his team.
Aston Martin’s upgrades and outlook
Aston Martin arrived in Hungary with significant updates, described as a “B-spec car,” aiming to improve their position in the midfield. Alonso expressed that the car felt “much better” and more predictable, despite finishing 19th and having a faster lap ruled out for track limits. He noted that the upgrade delivered as expected in terms of numbers and correlation, which is encouraging for future developments.
The team’s representative, Pedro de la Rosa, confirmed that Stroll’s incident in the first session was a suspension failure. Due to a lack of spare parts, Stroll’s car could not be repaired in time for the second practice session.
Ferrari had been anticipated to perform well at this circuit, which is less dependent on power. Leclerc acknowledged a “relatively strong day” for Ferrari but cautioned against over-interpreting the results, expecting a “tight” qualifying session on Saturday.
| Pos. | Driver | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton HAM | 1:18.729 |
| 2 | Charles Leclerc LEC | +0.148s |
| 3 | Lando Norris NOR | +0.499s |
| 4 | Max Verstappen VER | +0.692s |
| 5 | George Russell RUS | +0.933s |
The focus for many teams will now shift to preparing for the upcoming qualifying session.
Source: formula1.com
Leo Ashworth is a Sports News Writer at Latest News UK. He cut his teeth on regional sport before specialising in fast breaking-news writing. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Central Lancashire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Newcastle, he follows the European Tour and boxes at an amateur gym. “Get it right first, then tell readers why it matters.”