Lewis Hamilton managed to edge out his teammate Charles Leclerc for the quickest lap in the second practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix, underscoring Ferrari's dominance on the opening day of the weekend. After Leclerc had comfortably outpaced Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Hamilton in the Friday morning session, the seven‑time world champion made significant strides later in the day, erasing a half‑second deficit and ultimately posting a 0.158‑second advantage over the Italian driver. The closest rival to Ferrari in the more representative second practice was reigning champion Lando Norris, who, in an upgraded McLaren, finished just under half a second behind Hamilton.
Norris’s performance highlighted that while Ferrari looked the class of the field, the competition was still within striking distance. Speaking after his lap, Hamilton described the day as "solid overall" but noted that the conditions were tricky. He pointed out that gusty winds and a bumpy track surface added an extra layer of difficulty, especially on the Hungaroring, a circuit many had predicted would suit Ferrari's aerodynamic package.
"The car felt better in FP2 and we made some good progress between the sessions," Hamilton said. "There are still a few areas we need to improve, but we’ll analyse all the data overnight, keep working on the balance and hopefully find a bit more performance for tomorrow." Ferrari’s strong showing at the Hungaroring was not entirely unexpected. The team’s chassis and power unit appear well‑matched to the twisty, medium‑speed layout, and the recent upgrades seem to have unlocked additional downforce and tyre management capabilities. However, the Italian squad will also be encouraged by the surprising difficulties faced by championship leader Kimi Antonelli and his Mercedes team.
Antonelli, who missed the first practice session as Mercedes fulfilled a rookie‑driver requirement, struggled on his return. The 19‑year‑old repeatedly ran off the track due to rear‑wheel lock‑ups, ultimately posting a time that left him 13th overall and nearly two seconds off the pace.
His teammate, George Russell, was also off the front‑row pace, ending the session in fifth place, roughly a full second slower than Hamilton despite running a flying lap on fresh soft tyres. Max Verstappen, who had topped the opening session, was only seventh‑tenths slower than Hamilton, placing him fourth. His Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar trailed Russell in sixth. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who also sat out the first session, delivered a disappointing eighth‑place finish, being outpaced by Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson.
Piastri’s slower time could be attributed to the fact that his car did not receive the full upgrade package that Norris enjoyed, suggesting a disparity within the McLaren camp. While Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull still have time to extract more performance before the final practice at 11:30 am on Saturday, Ferrari has already cemented its status as the favourite for what promises to be a pivotal qualifying session at 3 pm. The session was briefly halted by a red flag when Franco Colapinto crashed heavily at the final corner, causing a ten‑minute stoppage.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was absent after a suspension failure in the first practice, further dampening the team's already difficult season. Their ambitious 16‑part upgrade package was largely eclipsed by the mechanical issue, leaving the team to regroup. Fernando Alonso, driving for the struggling team, showed signs of improvement in the second practice despite finishing 19th, sandwiched between the two 2026 newcomers from Cadillac.
A faster lap was deleted after a track‑limits violation, but Alonso noted that the car felt "much better" and seemed to meet the team’s expectations, hinting at a potential upward trajectory. The weekend schedule is packed: Saturday starts with an F3 sprint at 9 am, followed by the final practice at 11:30 am, an F2 sprint later in the day, and the crucial qualifying session at 3 pm. Sunday will feature the F3 feature race, Porsche Supercup, F2 feature race, and finally the Hungarian Grand Prix itself at 2 pm, with post‑race analysis and commentary throughout the day.
Overall, the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend is shaping up to be a critical juncture in the 2026 Formula 1 campaign. With Hamilton’s resurgence, Ferrari’s apparent advantage, and the struggles of rivals such as Mercedes and Aston Martin, the stage is set for an exciting showdown.
Fans can catch every session live on Sky Sports F1, and the race will be streamed via NOW, offering a contract‑free viewing option. The combination of technical challenges, strategic battles, and driver skill promises a memorable event in Budapest’s historic circuit.