Lando Norris leads McLaren in first practice at Hungarian Grand Prix

Lando Norris continues to shine with a fast lap at the Hungarian Grand Prix's opening session.

Lando Norris leads McLaren one-two at the Hungarian Grand Prix

In the first practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Lando Norris topped the charts, leading his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in a solid one-two finish. Norris finished just 0.019 seconds faster than Piastri, which adds some competitive tension ahead of the race as Piastri currently holds a 16-point advantage in the World Championship standings. Notably, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari came in third, followed closely by Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls, while Haas driver Oliver Bearman took sixth ahead of other competitors like Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Fernando Alonso was absent due to back issues, replaced by Felix Drugovich for this session. Despite some minor mishaps with drivers running wide, the session remained largely uneventful, allowing teams to focus on their setups. Mercedes continues to explore performance issues, reverting to an older rear suspension design, while Sauber's Paul Aron faced early adversity with a car failure after just eight laps.

Lando Norris’s strong showing in the first practice session showcases the growing competitiveness of McLaren. This performance not only boosts team morale but also puts pressure on Piastri, who leads Norris in the championship race. With the summer break approaching, teams like Mercedes are visibly scrambling to address their recent performance dips. The decision to revert to an older suspension setup speaks volumes about their struggles to find the right balance. Additionally, with Alonso's health concerns raising questions about his readiness for the upcoming races, the dynamics within the teams may shift significantly as they navigate this critical stretch of the season.

Highlights

The upcoming races will reveal if McLaren can maintain this momentum against intense competition.