Ferrari Dominates Hungarian GP FP2, Strikes Fear into F1 Rivals

Ferrari sets the tone at the Hungaroring, with Lewis Hamilton fastest in FP2 ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc by just over a tenth. The session is close, yet decisive for momentum.

Leclerc leads FP1, but Hamilton responds in the afternoon to underline Ferrari’s control. The consistent one-lap speed signals a package and driver pairing in sync at this venue.

Lando Norris converts McLaren’s latest upgrades into third, ahead of Max Verstappen in fourth. George Russell takes fifth, with Isack Hadjar sixth. Oscar Piastri returns for eighth after missing FP1.

Lance Stroll sits out FP2 after a left-rear suspension failure in FP1. Aston Martin withdraws the car, a major setback for its B-spec AMR26 carrying 16 upgrades.

Two red flags break up the session. First comes the clean-up for Stroll’s damaged car, then Franco Colapinto crashes at the final corner amid low grip and swirling winds.

Kimi Antonelli struggles to find rhythm after the first red flag interrupts his opener. A wide moment on his next push lap leaves him 13th, with more to unlock.

The final 30 minutes tilt back to Ferrari. Hamilton and Leclerc are first into the 1:18s, Hamilton edging it as the Hungaroring’s traction-heavy layout plays to the SF’s strengths.

Hamilton puts roughly half a second on Norris, suggesting a small but clear margin. Ferrari’s advantage tallies with the team’s Friday work on its Hungary-specific rear wing, explored in our Hungarian GP wing upgrades analysis.

McLaren consolidates third on single-lap pace, indicating the update set targets the right traits. Verstappen’s fourth keeps him in range, even if outright peak performance remains elusive.

The midfield compresses further. Liam Lawson’s seventh for Audi’s Racing Bulls stands out, indicating a car and driver extracting clean laps despite interruptions and gusty conditions.

Rookie Arvid Lindblad tempers aggression after a late incident nearly forces Gabriel Bortoleto off. The caution averts contact but limits his final push as the track evolves.

Ferrari carries a narrow but meaningful edge into Saturday. Rivals must respond on ride control and low-speed rotation to blunt Ferrari’s strengths. For the wider picture, see our 2026 F1 Hungarian GP coverage and full Hungarian practice report, plus context on Ferrari’s Hungarian GP advantage built across the week.

Visual Summary

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.