Free Practice 1 at Hungary: Russell Leads Amid Rainy Conditions

George Russell topped the first practice session of the season with a mark of 1:39.795, as wet conditions dominated the Magyar circuit at the Hungaroring. Track activity remained low, and intermediate tires were the only viable option for most drivers. Fernando Alonso evaluated the late-stage conditions closely, trailing Russell but ahead of his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll, who posted the third-fastest time. Stroll ultimately finished fifth, clocking the best intermediate lap of 1:40.687 as the track began to dry slightly.

The session began on a sour note with a crash that brought out a red flag early on. A Czech driver brought out the stoppage, while the Mexican driver faced a challenging run as he continues to adapt to Red Bull and to the pressures of competing at the pinnacle of Formula One. The season has seen Max Verstappen establish a strong advantage in the standings, and Sergio Perez has been under increasing scrutiny after a tougher stretch in recent races. The dynamic within the team intensified as Perez faced rivalry not only from teammates but also from a younger generation waiting for opportunities, including a notable debut by Daniel Ricciardo in the AlphaTauri after his time with other teams.

In another moment of the session, Carlos Sainz momentarily lost control of the Ferrari, sending him off the asphalt and triggering a second red flag of the day. He managed to recover the car and rejoined the track, eventually finishing in fifteenth place as officials assisted with the vehicle extraction and return to the circuit.

This moment showcased the fragility of grip in wet conditions, underscoring how even skilled drivers can encounter spin-outs when the surface is slick and Variable Weather Systems influence tire choice and throttle response.

— Direct Formula was among the outlets providing live coverage of the session, highlighting the day’s notable incidents and outcomes.

Russell and Oscar Piastri emerged as the fastest qualifiers in the practice, with Norris and Stroll trailing by more than a second due to the mixed-track conditions. Verstappen, the championship leader, did not set a representative lap time and left the track before the session ended to head to the team trailer. The forecast called for more rain later in the day, so a second practice session was scheduled for 17:00 local time, with Dry weather expected for Saturday and Sunday, bringing a more predictable context for the rest of the weekend.

GP Hungary. Free Practice 1:

1. George Russell (Mercedes) 1:38.795

2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) at 0:00.359

3. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) at 0:01.218

4. Lando Norris (McLaren) at 0:01.482

5. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) at 0:01.892

6. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) at 0:02.237

7. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) at 0:02.347

8. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo) at 0:02.568

9. Logan Sargeant (Williams) at 0:02.621

10. Nico Hülkenberg (Haas) at 0:03.911

11. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) at 0:04.111

12. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) at 0:06.780

13. Alexander Albon (Williams) at 0:08.608

14. Daniel Ricciardo (AlphaTauri) DNF

15. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) 0:00.000

16. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) 0:00.000

17. Esteban Ocon (Alpine) 0:00.000

18. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 0:00.000

19. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 0:00.000