Charles Leclerc set the pace for Ferrari during the first free practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, leading the field at the Hungaroring. Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull, with Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton completing the top three.
Despite his P2 result, Verstappen was vocal on the team radio about issues with his RB22. The Red Bull driver complained about the car’s downshifts during the session, a recurring point of frustration for him this season.
During one of his runs, Verstappen was noted saying, “the downshifts are horrendous”. This follows similar complaints about gearbox software and shifting performance at previous events, which the driver has described as ‘unacceptable’.
The issues with the RB22 are not new for the 2026 season. The team has reportedly struggled with the car being overweight since pre-season testing, which impacts the vehicle’s dynamics and balance. Problems with understeer in slow and medium-speed corners have been a consistent theme.
Leclerc’s session was not without issue, as the Ferrari driver stopped in the pit lane entry with a mechanical problem in the final ten minutes, bringing his practice to an early end. The session was also notable for the inclusion of five rookie drivers, with Frederik Vesti taking over Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes.
Behind the top three, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar finished fourth, ahead of George Russell in the lead Mercedes. A significant incident involved Lance Stroll, whose Aston Martin suffered an apparent suspension failure, causing a spin and ending his session prematurely.
The full classification for the first practice session saw Charles Leclerc fastest with a 1:19.075s. Max Verstappen was second, 0.484s behind, followed by Lewis Hamilton, Isack Hadjar, and George Russell. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), Frederik Vesti (Mercedes), and Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) also featured in the top ten.
