Charles Leclerc secured the fastest time in the opening free practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, clocking a 1:19.075. Max Verstappen finished second, 0.484 seconds behind the Ferrari driver at the Hungaroring. Lewis Hamilton completed the top three, 0.543 seconds off Leclerc’s pace.
Verstappen was summoned by the stewards following the session for alleged erratic driving. The incident involved Carlos Sainz during the initial minutes of Free Practice 1. Verstappen was on a flying lap when he encountered a slow-moving Sainz on the racing line at Turn 12.
Sainz reportedly failed to move off the racing line, forcing Verstappen to take evasive action. Verstappen then slowed significantly and moved back across the front of Sainz’s Williams. Sainz later informed the stewards that his radio cable was disconnected, preventing him from receiving team warnings.
Verstappen expressed his frustration over team radio, describing the situation as ‘really dangerous’. Following an investigation, the stewards issued a warning to Sainz for hindering Verstappen. Verstappen received no penalty for his involvement in the incident.
Beyond the steward’s summons, Verstappen voiced concerns regarding the performance of his Red Bull RB22. He reported ‘horrendous’ downshifts and significant ‘jumping’ on the front axle. These issues contributed to his complaints about the car’s operating window.
The four-time world champion has been a consistent critic of the 2026 Formula 1 power unit regulations. He highlighted the increased emphasis on energy management, which he believes compromises driving dynamics. Verstappen stated that these issues were particularly evident at power-demanding circuits.
Verstappen indicated that he does not anticipate these engine-related problems to be resolved before 2031. However, he suggested that the Hungaroring’s circuit layout, with its numerous corners and shorter straights, might make the energy management challenges ‘less painful’ compared to other tracks.
Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar, who finished fourth in FP1, also reported an engine problem. This occurred when he attempted to provide a tow for Verstappen during the session. Hadjar’s RB22 is powered by Red Bull Ford Powertrains.
The full Free Practice 1 results for the Hungarian Grand Prix are as follows: 1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1:19.075; 2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) +0.484s; 3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.543s; 4. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +0.922s; 5. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.991s; 6. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) +1.285s; 7. Frederik Vesti (Mercedes) +1.392s; 8. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) +1.548s; 9. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) +1.685s; 10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +1.791s.
