What happened in first Hungarian Grand Prix F1 practice

There was little to choose between the Ferraris and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull in opening Hungarian Grand Prix practice, with Carlos Sainz ultimately on top.

Key moments

– Sainz fastest by 0.130s from Verstappen
– Encouraging session for McLaren
– Upgraded Haas and Aston Martin hit track

In very hot conditions that might not be representative of a weekend where rain and then cooler temperatures are expected, Sainz’s 1m18.750s during a soft-tyre run with just over 10 minutes to go put him 0.130 seconds ahead of Formula 1 world championship leader Verstappen.

They and Charles Leclerc had swapped positions repeatedly during the hour, with Leclerc ultimately 0.289s off the pace in third.

The second Red Bull of Sergio Perez was down in sixth, seven tenths of a second away from Verstappen. Perez also made an unusual contribution to the session with an alarming sneezing fit broadcast on team radio.

For most of the session Daniel Ricciardo had been a surprise ‘best of the rest’ for McLaren.

He didn’t stay there, slipping back to eighth, but team-mate Lando Norris ended the hour fourth on a lap half a second clear of Ricciardo.

The Mercedes of George Russell and Lewis Hamilton were fifth and seventh, the Alpines of 2021 Hungary winner Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso ninth and 10th.

Alonso was among the drivers to visit the Hungaroring’s run-off areas, with a heavy kerb ride for Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin and a wild lock-up into Turn 1 for Yuki Tsunoda among the other minor incidents.

Kevin Magnussen’s upgraded Haas was 17th, one place and a tenth of a second ahead of team-mate Mick Schumacher in the previous-spec car.

Aston Martin was the other team running a particularly eye-catching upgrade, with a revised rear wing endplate on its cars. Sebastian Vettel was 11th, team-mate Stroll 12th.

Practice 1 Results