Lando Norris and McLaren took the spotlight on a sizzling Friday practice session at the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix. The scorching track temperatures, which peaked at a blistering 59.1°C, set the stage for dramatic developments and intriguing rivalries. But beyond the surface, a closer look reveals what’s bubbling under the hood for the top teams.
First, McLaren’s Norris clocked the fastest lap, hitting 1m17.788s in FP2. This made him the one to beat, but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wasn’t far behind. Despite running with used soft tires and dealing with early brake issues, Verstappen managed to slot in just 0.243s slower than Norris. Toss in some new cooling upgrades, and Red Bull might just have a secret weapon.
Meanwhile, Ferrari was dealing with mixed fortunes. Charles Leclerc’s crash in Turn 4 put a damper on their day, causing a lengthy red-flag period. Carlos Sainz had a better run, leading in FP1 with 1m18.713s. However, Ferrari’s hopes to solve high-speed corner bouncing with new floor updates showed mixed results. Their pace on long runs tells a different story, with Sainz trailing the leaders.
Aston Martin and Mercedes also had their share of shakeups. Fernando Alonso tested a raft of new updates in FP1, while his teammate Lance Stroll got them later in FP2. George Russell’s best lap in FP2 was good but not quite there, as temperature management seemed to plague Mercedes’ pace with tire temp issues.
Red Bull’s long-run data shows they might still have the edge come race day. Verstappen’s consistent lap times and ability to finish strong in his simulation runs put Red Bull ahead in most metrics. McLaren and Mercedes showed competitive spirit but couldn’t match Red Bull’s average lap pace.
Data shows varying strategies with tire compounds. McLaren’s choice to run hard tires deviates from others running mediums, a decision that might impact Sunday’s race. The relentless heat suggests harder compounds could be crucial, making tire strategy fascinating to watch.
As teams wrap up Friday practice at the Hungaroring, all eyes are on the potential race strategies and how the searing temperatures will play into tire performance. Will McLaren maintain its edge, or will Red Bull’s upgrades and strong long-run data prevail? The drama unfolds this Sunday, promising an exciting showdown.
Source: Motorsport – Youtube
