Ferrari produced the strongest one-two of Friday practice at the Hungaroring, with Lewis Hamilton edging Charles Leclerc in FP2 after the Monegasque had topped the opening session. The Scuderia’s revised aerodynamic package looked well suited to the Hungarian circuit, while Max Verstappen’s Red Bull continued to struggle with balance issues that have become a familiar feature of recent Fridays.
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Aston Martin’s Long-Awaited Upgrade Makes Its Debut
Aston Martin’s much-discussed B-spec upgrade finally appeared in Budapest, with heavy flow-vis paint revealing extensive aerodynamic testing across both sessions. Fernando Alonso closed to within three seconds of the fastest lap, a marked improvement that design chief Adrian Newey described as a “good step forward,” while cautioning against inflated expectations. Lance Stroll’s Friday, however, was cut short by a suspected suspension failure, leaving the team’s spare parts stretched heading into qualifying.
Hirakawa Declares F1 Ambitions
Elsewhere in the paddock, Haas reserve driver Rio Hirakawa made headlines by declaring he wants a race seat “as soon as possible,” fuelling speculation about Esteban Ocon’s long-term future at the team.
▶ Watch our complete Hungarian Grand Prix Friday in our video report below and subscribe to The Motion Report for the complete lap-by-lap analysis, tyre strategy breakdown, and what to watch for on race day.
Hungarian Grand Prix, F1 2026, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Adrian Newey, Rio Hirakawa, Formula 1 News, F1 Friday Practice
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