Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance during Friday’s practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix, setting the pace ahead of his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri. The 25-year-old Briton, trailing Piastri by 16 points in the drivers’ standings, clocked a blistering 1:15.624, finishing 0.291 seconds ahead of the Australian in a tense second session at the Hungaroring. Despite admitting to minor mistakes in FP2, Norris expressed satisfaction with the car’s performance, emphasizing the competitive edge McLaren has over last season’s package.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured third position, trailing Norris by nearly four-tenths, while the Aston Martin duo of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso occupied fourth and fifth. Lewis Hamilton followed closely in the second Ferrari, with George Russell slotting into seventh for Mercedes. Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar impressed in eighth, ahead of Yuki Tsunoda and Mercedes protégé Kimi Antonelli. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen endured a frustrating day, languishing in 14th place—1.167 seconds off the benchmark—after complaining about severe balance issues, labeling his car “undriveable.”
Adding to Verstappen’s woes, Red Bull faced an official warning when the Dutchman discarded a towel from his cockpit during the session. The cloth, left behind after a pit stop, posed a potential safety hazard by risking interference with the pedals. Verstappen clarified that he threw the towel away deliberately to avoid danger, insisting he acted “in the safest possible way,” a rationale the stewards accepted despite the formal caution for an “unsafe release.”
The session itself was a showcase of intensity, as Norris and Piastri pushed each other to the limits, their intra-team rivalry edging toward dramatic proportions. The McLaren pair narrowly avoided contact at Turn One during a late-lap exchange, underlining the high stakes in their title battle. Norris later experienced a heart-stopping moment, running wide onto the grass at the final corner, but quickly recovered without damage, reinforcing the tense atmosphere within the Woking-based camp.
As McLaren emerges as the dominant force heading into the Hungarian weekend, the broader narrative revolves around Verstappen’s struggles and Red Bull’s uncharacteristic disarray following leadership upheavals. With Norris and Piastri firmly locked in a head-to-head championship duel and Verstappen grappling to stay relevant, the Hungaroring promises a showdown that could further tilt the balance of power in this riveting 2025 season.
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