FP1: Sainz sets benchmark in opening Hungaroring practice

F1 Grand Prix, GP Hungary, Hungaroring

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz set the benchmark in the opening 60-minute practice session, beating reigning champion Max Verstappen and Ferrari team-mate Charlos Leclerc. F1technical's lead journalist Balázs Szabó reports from the Hungaroring.

Ferrari brought a small, but crucial upgrade to the Hungaroring, introducing a modification to the floor of its SF-24. The aim was to reduce the severe bouncing that has hindered Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz since the Scuderia introduced a comprehensive host of modifications at Barcelona.

It was therefore no surprise to see Carlos Sainz perform measurement runs in the early parts of the session with his car equipped with enormous aero rakes.

However, the Spaniard set an eye-watering time on the softs to top the session with a 1m18.713s. Max Verstappen led the early stages of the the session, but he had to settle for P2.

However, he was forced to abort his qualifying simulation run due to a virtual safety car, and with Pirelli’s softs having clearly provided the best grip on the first lap in FP1, he could have definitely gone quicker than what he managed on his second flying lap.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed a blisteringly quick race run simulation in the dying phases of the session, but his qualifying simulation was only enough for P3.

Mercedes driver George Russell looked very strong, ending Free Practice 1 in fourth place, from Zhou Guanyu in P5, Lando Norris in P6, Oscar Piastri in P7.

Having revealed on the F1 fan stage this morning that he was “shocked” yesterday by his weight gain since Silverstone, Yuki Tsunoda took an impressive P8.

Lance Stroll continued to confirm Aston Martin’s impressive form from Silverstone, taking ninth while his team-mate Fernando Alonso ended up down in P13.

The Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top 10 while Perez slotted into P11, ahead of RB’s Daniel Ricciardo, Alonso, Alexander Albon and the Kick Sauber of Valtteri Bottas.

Logan Sargeant enjoyed an encouraging first session, ending the sixty-minute practice in P16.

On the other hand, Alpine and Haas endured a difficult opening practice. The Estone-based outfit’s Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon were down in 17th and 18th respectively.

The American squad’s Kevin Magnussen – whose departure from Haas at the end of the season was announced this week – took 19th, while Oliver Bearman, who took over Nico Hulkemberg’s VF-24 for the opening session, slotted into 20th.