Carlos Sainz leads the charge in opening practice for Hungarian Grand Prix

Carlos Sainz topped the opening practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix ahead of Max Verstappen.

In an exciting start to the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, Carlos Sainz of Ferrari topped the opening practice session. He set a blistering lap time of 1:18.713, finishing ahead of reigning champion Max Verstappen by 0.276 seconds.

Sainz’s performance signals a strong showing for Ferrari as the team introduced a revised floor design to tackle previous aerodynamic challenges.

This upgrade seems to have worked well, as both Sainz and teammate Charles Leclerc displayed impressive pace as the Monesgaque finished third, just 0.298 seconds off the benchmark. Their results suggest that Ferrari is regaining its competitive edge.

The Hungaroring’s technical layout suits the SF-24, allowing Ferrari to capitalize on their improvements. The team is eager to build on this momentum as they aim for a strong finish in the race.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen secured second place with a time of 1:18.989. While he could not match Sainz’s pace, his performance remains commendable. He navigated high track temperatures exceeding 58°C as his team also debuted significant upgrades to their RB20 which are crucial for the remainder of the season.

The session featured a mix of strong performances as Mercedes’ George Russell finished fourth with a time of 1:19.137 while Zhou Guanyu of Sauber impressed by taking fifth with a time of 1:19.180. Russell’s result is particularly noteworthy as the Silver Arrows seeks to build on recent successes, including victories in Austria and Britain.

McLaren’s drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, also showed competitive speed. Norris finished sixth with a time of 1:19.211, while Piastri followed closely in seventh at 1:19.249 as the team remains in contention for a win this weekend.

However, not all drivers had smooth sessions. Lewis Hamilton, fresh off a victory at the British Grand Prix, ended up in tenth place with a time of 1:19.287. Meanwhile, Sergio Pérez, struggled further down the order in eleventh. This inconsistency highlights the challenges Red Bull has faced in recent races.

Aston Martin’s drivers, Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, also encountered difficulties with their new upgrades. Stroll managed to secure ninth place, while Alonso finished thirteenth. This suggests that further adjustments may be needed for the team to regain their competitive edge.

As the teams prepare for the second practice session and qualifying rounds, the results from the opening practice provide valuable insights. Ferrari’s strong showing, combined with Red Bull’s resilience, sets the stage for an intriguing race weekend.

2024 F1 Hungarian Grand Prix Free Practice 1 Results