FP2 Highlights | 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix

Second practice in Budapest in which one team dominated the timing tables and it wasn't the one we've become accustomed to. Ferrari occupy the top two spots with Lewis Hamilton eight times a winner here with the best lap of the day timed at 1 minute 18.729. Tenth and a half quicker than Scuderia teammate Charles Leclerc. Incidentally the seven-time champion has had a corner named after him at this circuit. Turn two to be exact with the others named after the likes of Nigel Lando Norris was pushing his upgraded McLaren hard skipping over the chicane at one point. Coming into this weekend the defending champion said he believed McLaren were capable of winning a race this season. He finished P3. Teammate Oscar Piastri had given his MCL40 over to a rookie earlier in the day. The consequent lack of laps seemingly affecting his times in FP2. He was P8 at the flag. Two years ago the Australian driver took his maiden Formula One Grand Prix victory at this race after the papaya team had nabbed their first front row lockout for 12 years. Max Verstappen hit some track debris on his way to P4. The four-time champ won this race twice during Red Bull's most recent dominant period in 2022 and 2023. Teammate Isaac Hadja suffered a big lock up at turn one. He finished P6. Mercedes George Russell, fifth fastest in FP1, struggled early doors. He was again P5 in this session. Current drivers championship leader Kimi Antonelli sat out FP1 in favour of a rookie racer. He wasn't entirely happy on his early outings. Later on a fast lap, he had to cut the corner of turn seven. Struggling to lay down a consistent quick lap, he suffered a huge lock up at turn two, sending him deep into the runoff. After a couple of below par rounds, the Italian teenager had come roaring back in Belgium, taking his sixth win of the season and breaking through the 200-point mark after just 10 rounds. But he only managed P13 this time out. There's clearly more to come from him. Arvid Lindblad seemed to be struggling to keep his V-carb going in the direction he intended. Later on, the Racing Bulls rookie got a little racy with the Audi of Nico Hülkenberg. It was sad news from the Landstuhl camper Aston Martin. The team were unable to repair the Canadian driver's upgraded AMR26 after his suspension failure in FP1, so he was unable to take part in this session. Their sole representative, Fernando Alonso, put his car to the test and you'd be forgiven for thinking they'd opted for a new livery this weekend. With so much flow vis on display, he looked not unlike last year's Selba. 23 years ago, before quite a few current F1 drivers were even a twinkle in the eye, Fernando was a winner here. The two-time champ secured the first of his to date 32 F1 victories at the Hungaroring back in 2003. Franco Colopinto was another who sat out FP1 for a junior driver and seemed to pay the price. A mistake on a fast one at the final corner, sending him off track and into the barriers, bringing out the red flags. The grip level's just absolutely nowhere and trying to predict it is impossible. As soon as you get wide, you get all the dust. That final turn today just looks like such a horrible one to try and combat. So Friday finished with a Ferrari 1-2. Hamilton from Leclerc, then came Norris for Stappen, Russell, Hadjar, Lawson, Piastri, Hülkenberg and Lindblad. P11 for Bortoletto and he was ahead of Ocon, Antonelli, Gasly, Behrmann, Alben, Sainz, Bottas, Alonso, Perez and Colopinto, with Stroll not able to take part.