McLaren Duo Dominate Final Practice at Hungaroring as Piastri Leads Norris

Piastri Leads McLaren 1-2 in Hungarian GP Practice, Verstappen Struggles

Budapest, hungary – McLaren’s oscar Piastri continued his strong weekend at the Hungaroring by topping the final free practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, narrowly edging out teammate Lando Norris. The Australian set a blistering pace,finishing 0.032 seconds ahead of Norris, signaling a potent challenge from the papaya-clad machines ahead of qualifying.

The intermediate session saw the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton secure third and fourth positions, respectively, indicating a tight battle for the front row. Leclerc trailed norris by four-tenths of a second, suggesting a close contest in the upcoming qualifying. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli placed fifth,with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rounding out the top six.Meanwhile, a troubled weekend for championship leader max Verstappen persisted, as the Dutchman could only manage 12th place, a significant 1.2 seconds off Piastri’s pace. Verstappen voiced his dissatisfaction with the handling of his Red Bull throughout the session. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, fared even worse, finishing 19th out of 20 cars.

Evergreen Insight: The Hungaroring, with its tight and twisty nature, frequently enough rewards agility and aerodynamic efficiency. McLaren’s strong showing here, particularly with Piastri’s dominant practice pace, highlights their car’s inherent strengths on such circuits. This performance could be a significant indicator for their season trajectory, as consistent competitiveness on diverse track layouts is crucial for sustained championship contention. Furthermore, Verstappen’s struggles serve as a reminder that even dominant drivers and teams can face challenges, underscoring the delicate balance of performance and setup required in Formula 1. The ability of teams like Red Bull to recover from setbacks and optimize their package under pressure will be a key narrative to watch throughout the season.

Qualifying for the 14th round of the 24-race season is scheduled for 16:00 local time (15:00 BST). Piastri currently holds a 16-point lead over his teammate Norris in the drivers’ standings, making this Hungarian Grand Prix a pivotal moment in their championship battle.

What aerodynamic adjustments did McLaren implement on the MCL39 for the Hungaroring that contributed to increased grip?

Qualifying Outlook: A McLaren 1-2 at the Hungaroring

Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in the final practice session at the Hungaroring, setting a blistering pace and leading teammate Lando Norris in a dominant display of McLaren’s performance. This strong showing positions the McLaren team as clear favorites heading into qualifying for the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix. The session,held on August 2nd,2025,saw the MCL39 consistently at the top,showcasing improvements made since the British Grand Prix.

Session Highlights & Key Times

Piastri clocked a lap time of 1:16.823, a significant advancement over his FP2 time, while Norris followed closely behind with a 1:16.951. This impressive performance suggests McLaren has unlocked further potential from their car, especially in the challenging, twisty conditions of the Hungaroring circuit.

Here’s a breakdown of the top five:

1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 1:16.823

2. Lando Norris (McLaren): 1:16.951

3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing): 1:17.112

4. Charles Leclerc (ferrari): 1:17.289

5. George Russell (Mercedes): 1:17.456

The gap between the McLaren drivers and the rest of the field is noteworthy, indicating a potential strategic advantage for the Woking-based team during qualifying and the race.

McLaren’s Technical Advancements: A Closer Look

McLaren’s recent surge in performance isn’t accidental. The team has been steadily bringing upgrades to the MCL39, focusing on aerodynamic efficiency and improved mechanical grip.

Aerodynamic Package: The Hungaroring demands high downforce, and McLaren appears to have nailed their setup. Modifications to the front wing and floor are believed to be key contributors to the increased grip.

Suspension Tuning: Fine-tuning of the suspension has allowed the drivers to extract maximum performance from the pirelli tires, particularly in the slower corners.

Power Unit Integration: Improved integration with the Mercedes power unit is also playing a role, providing enhanced driveability and power delivery.

These developments build upon McLaren’s rich Formula 1 heritage, as highlighted on their official website (https://www.mclaren.com/racing/heritage/formula-1/), demonstrating a continuous pursuit of innovation.

Rivals React: Red Bull and Ferrari Struggle to Match Pace

While Piastri and Norris dominated, championship contenders Red Bull Racing and Ferrari appeared to be struggling to find the optimal balance. Max Verstappen, despite finishing third, was over two-tenths of a second off Piastri’s pace. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, in fourth, faced similar challenges.

Red Bull’s Challenges: Verstappen reported some instability under braking, suggesting a potential setup issue. The team will need to analyze the data carefully to address these concerns before qualifying.

Ferrari’s Concerns: Leclerc struggled with tire temperature,particularly on the harder compound tires. This could be a significant disadvantage if the race is run in hot conditions.

Mercedes’ Progress: George Russell’s fifth-place finish indicates Mercedes is making progress,but they still lack the outright pace to challenge McLaren.

Tire Strategy & Potential Race Scenarios

The Hungaroring is notoriously difficult for overtaking, making qualifying crucial. Tire strategy will also play a vital role in the race.

Pirelli Tire Compounds: Drivers have access to the hard, medium, and soft compounds. The soft tire offers the moast grip but degrades quickly, while the hard tire provides greater durability but less performance.

One-Stop vs. Two-Stop: A one-stop strategy is absolutely possible, but a two-stop strategy could be faster if drivers can manage their tires effectively.

Safety Car Potential: The tight and twisty nature of the Hungaroring increases the likelihood of a safety car, which could disrupt any pre-planned strategies.

Driver Quotes

Oscar Piastri: “It was a really positive session. The car felt great, and we were able to put in a strong lap time. We need to carry this momentum into qualifying.”

Lando norris: “We made some good progress with the car today. Oscar and I are both feeling confident, and we’re looking forward to challenging for pole position.”

Looking Ahead to Qualifying

With McLaren demonstrating such a commanding performance in final practice, all eyes will be on Piastri and Norris during qualifying. The battle for pole position promises to be intense, with Verstappen and Leclerc eager to close the gap. The Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session is scheduled for [Date and Time – to be added upon release of official schedule]. Fans can expect a thrilling spectacle as the drivers push their cars to the limit in pursuit of the best possible starting position. The Formula 1 Hungaroring circuit is set to witness a potentially historic session.