Carlos Sainz wasted no time making his mark at the Hungarian Grand Prix, clocking the fastest lap in the first free practice session, leaving fans and rivals buzzing in Hungary’s scorching heat.
Blazing through the Hungaroring track, Sainz posted a remarkable 1m18.713s lap time, outpacing championship leader Max Verstappen by a solid 0.276 seconds. The Ferrari driver’s performance set the tone for the weekend, as he navigated the challenging conditions with finesse.
Drivers faced high track temperatures soaring above 58C. George Russell initially led with a 1m20.980s on medium tires, only to be outshone by Verstappen, who came close with a sub-80 second lap on softs. However, Sainz’s prowess on the soft-tyre runs in the session’s latter half proved unbeatable.
Efforts from Charles Leclerc, who led earlier, and Verstappen’s continuous laps on the C5 tires kept the competition tight. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri, nearly matching Verstappen on mediums, added to the thrills, while Alex Albon briefly claimed the top spot before being overtaken by Russell’s 1m19.137s on softs.
Leclerc and Sainz, both running new car setups to address stability issues, showcased Ferrari’s adaptability. Verstappen’s attempt to reclaim the lead with a 1m18.989s fell short, securing him second, just ahead of Leclerc. George Russell finished fourth, with Zhou Guanyu overcoming early setbacks to secure fifth.
As the session unfolded, Lando Norris and Piastri joined the top ranks, followed closely by Yuki Tsunoda. Lance Stroll, despite running older equipment, clinched the ninth spot, while Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top ten, narrowly edging out Sergio Perez by 0.15s.
The Hungarian GP has kicked off with excitement and fierce competition, setting the stage for an action-packed weekend. Sainz’s impressive performance leaves fans eagerly awaiting more on-track drama.
Source: Motorsport
