Max in P2 after first free practice in Hungary

Published on 19 July 2024 by Misha van der Kroon

Max Verstappen finished the first free practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix in second place. Only Carlos Sainz was faster than the Dutchman. The Spaniard was more than two-tenths faster this session. Charles Leclerc finished FP1 in third place in the other Ferrari, and George Russell's time was good for fourth place. Guanyu Zhou completed the top five in Hungary.

It is almost impossible to imagine that the pit lane on the circuit near Budapest was flooded earlier this week. During this session, there is a 0% chance of rain this session. It is 31 degrees outside, and the track has a temperature of 58 degrees at the start of the session. It will be an interesting weekend for several teams, including Oracle Red Bull Racing. They have brought quite a few updates for this weekend, which Max can put to the test during this first free practice. Oliver Bearman will take place in Nico Hulkenberg’s car for FP1.

Verstappen's first time is a 1:20.715 on the soft tyre. He is three-hundredths faster than Norris, who is on the mediums. Max is the only one to set a fast time on the soft tyre in the first part of the session. Teammate Perez also has the soft tyres put on his car, but he is mainly busy collecting data using aero rakes during the first part of FP1. Most of the drivers opt for the medium tyres. This includes George Russell, who is more than six-tenths faster than Max on the mediums. However, this does not last long, because the Dutchman improves his fastest time to a 1:19.831, more than two-tenths faster than Russell. Moments later, the Brit encounters Yuki Tsunoda, who apparently does not see him and almost pushes him off the track. Fortunately, they manage to avoid a crash.

Halfway through the session, Oscar Piastri jumps to second place. He is seven-thousandths slower than Verstappen, but the Australian sets this time on the medium instead of the soft tyre. Then a surprise: Alexander Albon takes the first position from Max. He sets a 1:19.794, three-hundredths faster than the Dutchman. Russell shows that he can go a little faster and sets a 1:19.137. Teammate Hamilton is more than a tenth behind.

Very briefly there is a virtual safety car briefly after a part of Albon’s Williams flies onto the track. Then, Carlos Sainz is the first to set a time of 1 minute 18. With this he pushes teammate Leclerc back to second place. Shortly after, the team of Aston Martin asks Alonso over the on-board radio if he has any advice for teammate Stroll about the balance of the car. “Good luck,” the Spaniard answers. Both Aston Martin drivers are not particularly pleased with their car.

In the final fifteen minutes of the session, Verstappen has fallen back to fifteenth place. He goes for another fast lap and manages to improve to P2, more than two-tenths behind Sainz. In the final moments of the session, everyone is on softs. Max tries again with soft tyres that are six laps old, but is unable to improve his time. Guanyu Zhou popped up in the top ten a few times during this training, and manages to set the fifth time in the final moments of the session. Sainz remains the fastest man of FP1, followed by Max. Leclerc drives his Ferrari to third position, while Russell's time is good for fourth place.

Contest Hungarian GP: win a by Max Verstappen signed Verstappen.com Racing cap!

Results first free practice Hungary: