As Ferrari gets back on track, Hamilton underperforms, Vettel announces his retirement, and rumors say Ricciardo may leave McLaren.
BUDAPEST, Hungary—Even with the disaster that occurred one week ago in France, Ferrari drivers Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc took both Friday practices for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring. Leclerc recorded the fastest time of 1: 18:445 in the afternoon, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and his Scuderia teammate Sainz Jr., who clocked in third.
Max Verstappen had a quiet afternoon session, putting his Red Bull in fourth, complaining of handling in certain corners on this tight, twisty circuit. McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo, who has been in the spotlight with rumors that he will leave his team despite having another year on his contract, impressed with a fifth-place finish. Fernando Alonso, celebrating his 41st birthday in style in Friday practice, had a decent performance to place sixth in his Alpine.
Another veteran driver, Sebastian Vettel, who announced that he will be retiring from Formula One at the end of this season, took seventh in the Aston Martin. George Russell ended up eighth in his Mercedes. Teammate Lewis Hamilton had an off day, finishing out of the top ten in both sessions. Sergio Perez, who was rumored to have different setups on his Red Bull vis-a-vis teammate Verstappen, was disappointing, finishing in ninth. Alfa Romeo’s Valtteri Bottas finished in tenth.
No incidents occurred during the entire day of practice, with only Williams Alex Albon spinning out into turn one, only to reset his car and continue back to the pits, where he needed new tyres, following flat spotting all of them.
This circuit pulled a lot of surprises last season, and this year could be no different. Saturday qualifying expects rain showers possible, but the forecast is dry and cool on Grand Prix Sunday. ESPN2 will televise qualifying at 10a U.S. Eastern time and then Sunday’s race starting at 9a Eastern on ESPN.
