Ferrari Flex Muscle as Hamilton Leads Hungarian GP Friday

• Ferrari topped both Friday practice sessions, with Charles Leclerc fastest in FP1 and Lewis Hamilton leading FP2
• Leclerc overcame a late mechanical issue in FP1, while Hamilton edged his teammate by 0.158 seconds in the second session
• Lance Stroll’s upgraded Aston Martin suffered a suspected rear suspension failure, triggering the only red flag of FP1
• Championship leader Kimi Antonelli finished only 13th in FP2 as McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged as Ferrari’s closest challenger

Ferrari laid down an early marker at the 2026 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc topped the two Friday practice sessions, underlining the Scuderia’s pace ahead of qualifying at the Hungaroring.

Leclerc was the fastest driver in Free Practice 1 with a lap of 1:19.075, finishing just ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and teammate Hamilton. The Monegasque driver’s session, however, ended on a sour note after he suffered a mechanical issue late in the hour, forcing Ferrari to investigate the problem ahead of the afternoon running.

Despite the setback, Ferrari bounced back emphatically in Free Practice 2, where Hamilton clocked the fastest lap of the day to edge Leclerc by 0.158 seconds. The seven-time world champion’s benchmark secured a Ferrari one-two, reinforcing the team’s strong pace on a circuit where downforce and mechanical grip are crucial.

Hamilton’s performance marked one of Ferrari’s most encouraging Fridays of the season, with both drivers consistently featuring at the top of the timing screens during qualifying simulations and long-run pace.

The opening session was interrupted by a red flag after Aston Martin‘s Lance Stroll stopped on track following what appeared to be a rear suspension failure. The Canadian had been running the team’s latest upgrade package before the incident brought practice to a halt while marshals recovered the car.

The stoppage limited track time for several teams, although Ferrari and Red Bull had already completed the majority of their planned programmes before the interruption.

Verstappen finished second in FP1 behind Leclerc but slipped down the order in the second session as Ferrari increased its advantage. McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged as the closest challenger to the Italian team in FP2, although he finished nearly half a second adrift of Hamilton’s leading time despite bringing updates to the MCL39.

Mercedes endured a more difficult day. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli struggled to extract pace from his car throughout Friday and finished only 13th in the second practice session, leaving the Silver Arrows with significant work ahead of qualifying.

The Italian, who leads the drivers’ standings entering the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, was unable to match the pace shown by Ferrari or McLaren and will be hoping overnight setup changes improve the balance of his Mercedes.

Ferrari’s encouraging performance comes at a circuit traditionally suited to high-downforce cars, with the Hungaroring often rewarding teams capable of generating consistent grip through its series of medium- and slow-speed corners.

While Friday practice times do not always translate directly into qualifying or race performance, Ferrari’s dominance across both sessions suggests the team could be in contention for pole position.

Hamilton’s fastest lap in FP2 and Leclerc’s benchmark in FP1 also indicate that Ferrari has found competitive pace on both low- and high-fuel runs, an encouraging sign as the team continues its push for victories in the second half of the season.

Attention now turns to Saturday’s final practice session and qualifying, where teams will refine their setups before the battle for pole position at one of Formula 1’s most technical circuits.