Image Credentials: Image Title: Lando Norris Leads McLaren 1-2 in FP1 at 2025 Hungarian GP as F1 Hits Summer Break Source: (sora.chatgpt) Date: July 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (sora.chatgpt), it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer | Open Chronicle
As the 2025 Formula 1 season reaches its midpoint, the Hungarian Grand Prix at the redeveloped Hungaroring provided a dramatic start to the weekend with Free Practice 1 (FP1). McLaren’s Lando Norris topped the session with a blistering 1:16.052, narrowly ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.019 seconds, signaling a strong statement from the Woking-based team before the summer shutdown.
⏱️| Formula 1 • Final FP1
🥇Lando NORRIS 1:16.052
🥈Oscar PIASTRI +0.019
🥉Charles LECLERC +0.21713- Pierre GASLY 1:17.123
(+0.341)
18-Franco COLAPINTO🇦🇷1:17.464#F1 #HungarianGP🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/QUA0sSoRkI— FormulaArg (@FormulaArgOK) August 1, 2025
Hungaroring Turns 40 with a New Look
Celebrating its 40th Formula 1 race, the Hungaroring has undergone significant upgrades, including a brand-new pit complex and grandstands that offer sweeping views of the natural bowl-shaped layout just outside Budapest. The new infrastructure gave FP1 a fresh feel, but the tight, twisty character of the circuit remained as challenging as ever for drivers.
McLaren Dominance, Ferrari and Mercedes Chase
Norris and Piastri set the tone early on with consistently fast laps, despite both experiencing moments of instability. Charles Leclerc was the closest challenger in third, 0.217 seconds off the pace, continuing Ferrari’s strong form with their SF-25. Lewis Hamilton, however, struggled with setup issues, suffering a massive lock-up and ending the session fifth, behind rookie Isack Hadjar in a surprising fourth for Visa RB.
George Russell salvaged some pride for Mercedes in eighth, but was 0.873 seconds adrift of the McLaren lead, while young teammate Kimi Antonelli ended seventh. Max Verstappen, uncharacteristically quiet, finished ninth—raising eyebrows as the reigning champion seemed to be holding his cards close to his chest.
Sauber’s Struggles, Driver Substitutes Step In
Sauber had a difficult session, with both Gabriel Bortoleto and Paul Aron suffering mechanical issues that forced early retirements. Aron, substituting for Nico Hülkenberg, failed to set a competitive time before pulling off with a failure that brought out a Virtual Safety Car.
Elsewhere, Felipe Drugovich stepped in for the injured Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin. The team confirmed that Alonso is battling a muscular back issue and may miss the remainder of the weekend.
Track Evolution and Early Storylines
The track evolved rapidly during the session, with the medium and soft tyre runs giving teams a clearer view of their one-lap potential. Norris first set the pace on mediums before improving on the softs, while Piastri responded quickly to ensure McLaren finished FP1 with a lockout of the top two positions.
Charles Leclerc showed glimpses of Ferrari’s pace with a stint on the mediums that briefly put him top of the charts, while teammate Hamilton expressed frustration over McLaren’s performance edge, especially in key corners where he was losing time.
Full FP1 Top 10 – 2025 Hungarian GP
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Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:16.052
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Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.019
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Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.217
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Isack Hadjar (Visa RB) – +0.354
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Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.470
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Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +0.605
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Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.772
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George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.873
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Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.888
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Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – +1.003
Looking Ahead
With FP2 set to take place later on Friday, teams will turn their attention to long-run simulations. While McLaren appears poised for pole contention, Ferrari and Mercedes will be keen to close the gap, and Red Bull’s Verstappen could yet spring a surprise.
The Hungaroring’s tight nature means qualifying on Saturday will be critical—track position here is often the key to victory. As the final session before the summer break, there’s all to play for as teams look to head into August on a high.
Where to Watch FP1 and the Hungarian GP
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USA: ESPNU / ESPN App
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UK: Sky Sports F1
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Australia: Fox Sports 506 / Kayo Sports
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Local Time for FP1: 13:30 CEST (12:30 BST, 7:30 ET, 4:30 PT, 9:30 AEST)
Stay tuned for more updates as the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend unfolds!
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.