Free Practice 1 at Hungary: Russell Leads Amid Rainy Conditions
George Russell topped the opening practice session of the season with a time of 1:39.795, as damp conditions dominated the Hungaroring. The surface stayed stubbornly slick, and most drivers settled into a careful rhythm, using intermediate tires as the primary option while the track gradually refused to fully dry out. Fernando Alonso kept a close eye on the evolving conditions, finishing just behind Russell and ahead of his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll, who posted the third-best effort. Stroll ultimately crossed the line in fifth, delivering the best intermediate-run time of 1:40.687 as the circuit began to shed a hint of moisture and the tires found a more stable grip.
The session began with a jolt when a crash prompted an early red flag. A Czech rookie triggered the stoppage, while a Mexican driver faced a challenge-filled run as he continues to acclimate to Red Bull and the pressures of Formula One’s highest level. The season so far has seen Max Verstappen establish a clear lead in the standings, and Sergio Perez has come under heightened scrutiny after a tougher sequence of races. Within the team, competition intensified as Perez faced rivalry not only from his teammate but also from a younger generation waiting for opportunities, including a noteworthy return by Daniel Ricciardo in the AlphaTauri lineup after his spells with other teams.
In another moment of the session, Carlos Sainz momentarily lost control of the Ferrari, sliding off the slick surface and triggering a second red flag of the day. He managed to regain control, rejoined the track, and eventually finished in fifteenth place as officials helped recover the vehicle and return it to the pit lane for checks before continuing.
This incident underscored how fragile grip can be on a wet surface, reminding teams that even top drivers can spin if throttle input and steering come together at the wrong moment. Variable Weather Systems continued to influence tire strategy, pit stops, and the approach to throttle response as the track evolved during the session.
— Direct Formula was among the outlets offering live coverage of the session, outlining the day’s notable moments and outcomes as conditions shifted around the circuit.
Russell and Oscar Piastri emerged as the pace-setters in the practice, with Lando Norris and Lance Stroll close behind as the track remained inconsistent and the light rain teased further variability. Verstappen, the championship leader, did not post a meaningful lap time and departed the track before the session concluded to head to the team trailer for a strategic review. The forecast pointed to additional rain later in the day, making a second practice session at 17:00 local time a practical follow-up, while expectations leaned toward drier weather on Saturday and Sunday to provide a more predictable backdrop 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