Lewis Hamilton Tops Charles Leclerc in a Challenging FP2 at the Hungarian Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton led a Ferrari one-two in the second practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix, narrowly beating teammate Charles Leclerc. The session saw tricky conditions and several car issues affecting various teams.
Ferrari had a fruitful Friday at the Hungaroring, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc locking out the top two positions in the second practice session. Hamilton clocked the fastest lap, just ahead of Leclerc, while McLaren's Lando Norris followed in third.
The session kicked off at 1700 local time, with teams eager to maximize the 60 minutes given the upgrades many were testing. Aston Martin introduced a B-spec car aiming to close the gap to the midfield, while McLaren and Red Bull also came with significant updates, including Red Bull's rotating rear wing.
The breezy conditions saw Cadillac and Alpine make the first moves, with drivers like Kimi Antonelli and Oscar Piastri taking to the track. Meanwhile, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll was absent due to a suspension issue that couldn't be fixed in time, leaving Fernando Alonso to gather data for the team.
Charles Leclerc initially set the pace on medium tires, but Hamilton soon bettered his time by four-tenths. However, it wasn't a smooth session for everyone. Pierre Gasly voiced concerns over his car's handling, particularly in Turn 12, while George Russell described his Mercedes as "dreadful" and "out of balance."
As teams switched to soft tires, Norris briefly topped the timesheets with his improved McLaren. However, a crash involving Franco Colapinto in the Alpine brought out the red flags, interrupting Kimi Antonelli's flying lap. Colapinto lost control in the final corner, causing significant damage to his car, which Alpine will need to address overnight.
Once the track was cleared, qualifying runs resumed. Leclerc reclaimed the top spot briefly, but Hamilton responded with an even quicker lap, ending the session with a time of 1:18.729. This left him ahead of Leclerc and Norris in the final standings.
Max Verstappen took fourth for Red Bull, overcoming debris from Alonso's Aston Martin. He was followed by Russell, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson. Oscar Piastri finished seventh, while Nico Hulkenberg and Arvid Lindblad completed the top ten.
Outside the top ten, Gabriel Bortoleto's Audi just missed out, with Esteban Ocon, Antonelli, and Pierre Gasly trailing behind. The Williams pair of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz also struggled, along with Valtteri Bottas, Alonso, Sergio Perez, and Colapinto. Stroll remained in the garage, unable to participate.
Overall, the session highlighted Ferrari's current edge at the Hungaroring, with Hamilton showcasing his knack for finding pace in tricky conditions.