Hungarian Grand Prix: F1 Free Practice 2 Results

Hungarian Grand Prix: F1 Free Practice 2 Results

Another opportunity for drivers and teams to optimise setups prior to Qualifying on Saturday

James Fiorucci 3 min read

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Drivers and teams had another hour to fine-tune their setups in the second practice session of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.

Hungarian Grand Prix: F1 Free Practice 2 Results
Carlos Sainz topped FP1 earlier in the day (Image Credit: @F1 on X)

The Hungaroring presents an altogether different challenge to the Silverstone Circuit which played host to the British Grand Prix a fortnight ago. Temperatures are a lot higher than they were in the UK, with thermometers showing above 30 degrees Celsius and track temperatures in excess of 50 degrees Celsius.

Furthermore, the circuit layout has a much lower average speed, with a lot of medium and low-speed corners and an absence of long straights. This means we are likely to see relative performances change compared to just two weeks past.

Scuderia Ferrari look to have jumped up the pecking order around the Hungaroring, as Carlos Sainz topped the timing screens in the first practice session with teammate Charles Leclerc in P3. Championship leader Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull Racing split the pair, and both McLaren and Mercedes occupied positions near the top. It’s early days but it appears as though there are still four outfits realistically in with a chance of winning the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Nico Hulkenberg will return behind the wheel of his Haas VF-24, which he vacated for Oliver Bearman in FP1. The latter will join the American team in 2025, while Kevin Magnussen was recently announced to be leaving the same team at the end of the current campaign.

Next up: FP2. Who will impress the most in the next hour? Read on to find out.

Initial laps

First out on circuit was the #27 car of Hulkenberg, who also got the first representative time on the board with a 1:20.201 on the Medium compound of tyre. Sauber continued their solid form from FP1 with the first banker lap from Valtteri Bottas putting him top of the pile: 1:19.716.

All 20 drivers were on the medium tyre apart from the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, who opted to use the Hard tyre on their first runs. After the first flurry of lap times, it was Sergio Perez in P1 with a 1:18.568 time.

Verstappen could only muster fifth on hist first fast lap, as he complained on his team radio of poor braking performance. Meanwhile Sainz and Norris claimed fifth and 11th respectively, leaving Fernando Alonso as the only driver yet to get a time on the board with eight minutes of the session gone.

Drivers shifted their focus to race runs, meaning not many improved their best times. Norris impressed by moving up to P6 on the slower Hard tyre, while Verstappen made it a Red Bull 1-2 with a 1:18.724 with three quarters of an hour left to play. The Mercedes pair had the next two positions, with George Russell ahead of Lewis Hamilton.

The cameras focussed on Leclerc, who lost control of his Ferrari through Turn 4 and damaged his front wing. He came to a stop and brought out the Red flags. Replays showed the Monegasque going too wide on exit and losing grip on the outside kerbing.

The session restarts

Practice got back underway with less than half an hour left on the clock as marshals removed the stricken SF-24 and conducted repairs on the impacted barrier. It was safe to say that Leclerc would be able to play no more part in FP2.

Times were bound to tumble as many cars went out on the fastest Soft tyre. Russell improved on all three sectors to jump up to P1 with a 1:18.294. Hamilton also moved up just behind his teammate by 0.069 seconds. Yellow flags were briefly waved as Zhou Guanyu made a very similar mistake to Leclerc, spinning out of Turn 4 but managing to keep his car out of the barriers.

In the interim several drivers had beaten Russell’s time, as Norris became the first driver to set a time in the 1:17s with a 1:17.788. Verstappen and Sainz completed the top three with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Final race runs

Race simulations resumed for the final 15 minutes, resulting in very few changes to the timing screens.

Tsunoda, who had undergone a setup change to his front suspension before the start of second practice, attempted several Qualifying runs out of phase with the rest of the field. However, the Japanese driver was unable to beat his previous best and remained in P19.

Norris ultimately ended the second practice session as the fastest driver, almost a quarter of a second ahead of Verstappen who once again claimed P2. Sainz was third as the clock struck zero, four tenths behind the leading McLaren, further demonstrating Ferrari’s improvement from a lacklustre British Grand Prix.

Full results

Feature Image Credit: @F1 on X

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