Black Mercedes Outruns Pink Rivals in First Practice

Lewis Hamilton spearheaded a dominant performance for Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team in the opening practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, topping the timesheets ahead of his teammate Valtteri Bottas. The silver arrows showcased formidable pace around the tight and technical Hungaroring circuit, suggesting another strong weekend could be on the horizon for the championship leaders. Their close one-two finish in Friday’s first 90-minute run immediately established them as the team to beat at a track known for its challenging layout and strategic complexities.

Following closely behind the two Mercedes W11 machines were the cars that have generated significant debate and controversy in the paddock: the Racing Point-Mercedes RP20s. Often dubbed the “Pink Mercedes” due to its striking resemblance to last year’s championship-winning car, the team continued to display impressive speed. Sergio Perez delivered a stellar performance, securing the third-quickest time of the session. His lap was remarkably just half a second shy of Hamilton’s benchmark, underscoring the potential of the RP20. Team mate Lance Stroll was not far behind, placing fourth, approximately a second off the leading pace. This strong showing comes amidst an ongoing protest from rivals Renault, who have formally questioned the legality and origins of certain parts of the RP20, intensifying the scrutiny on the Silverstone-based outfit as the season progresses.

After a challenging start to the 2020 Formula 1 season with two difficult races at the Red Bull Ring in Austria, Ferrari appeared to find a slightly better rhythm at the Hungaroring. The twisty nature of the circuit, which places less emphasis on raw engine power and more on aerodynamic efficiency and driver skill, seemed to suit the SF1000 more effectively. Both Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc managed to secure positions comfortably within the top ten, finishing sixth and seventh respectively. Their improved form offered a glimmer of hope for the Scuderia, indicating that they might be more competitive this weekend than in the previous rounds, though they were still outpaced by ‘s Renault, which impressively secured fifth place.

Expectations were high for Max Verstappen and Red Bull-Honda heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix, with many pundits tipping them as Mercedes’ closest challengers. However, the first practice session proved to be less straightforward for the Dutchman. Verstappen could only manage the eighth-fastest time, a result he found frustrating. During his final flying lap, he reported to his team that he had “completely destroyed the left-front” tyre, compromising his performance. Additionally, he voiced his frustration at being held up by Nicholas Latifi at a crucial point in the session, which further hindered his ability to set a more representative lap time. His teammate, Alexander Albon, also struggled to match the pace, placing the second Red Bull in thirteenth position. This initial outing suggests Red Bull has some work to do to unlock the full potential of their car and challenge the dominant Mercedes, a task they will undoubtedly be focused on for the remainder of the weekend.

In the fiercely contested midfield, Lando Norris demonstrated resilience and speed for McLaren-Renault. Despite nursing a sore chest that had been a concern since the previous weekend’s race, Norris piloted his car to the ninth-fastest time. His consistent performance highlights McLaren’s strong start to the season and their ongoing battle for third in the constructors’ championship. He finished ahead of ‘s Renault, who took tenth, and his own teammate Carlos Sainz Jnr, who secured eleventh. The close proximity of these drivers underscores the intensity of the midfield competition, where every tenth of a second can significantly alter grid positions. Teams like Renault and McLaren are locked in a relentless fight for crucial championship points, making every session vital for optimizing their packages.

One notable absence from the lap times was Pierre Gasly, who was unable to complete any laps during the session. AlphaTauri-Honda reported a problem with his power unit. Honda, their engine supplier, stated on social media that they had “seen an anomaly on the data of Pierre’s [power unit] and we need to carry out physical checks which will take some time.” This unfortunate setback meant Gasly lost valuable track time at a critical juncture, as teams strive to fine-tune their cars for the unique demands of the Hungaroring. Such technical issues can severely impact a driver’s preparation for qualifying and the race, forcing them to play catch-up in subsequent sessions.

Rounding out the field and setting the slowest time of the session was Robert Kubica. The Polish driver made his second practice appearance of the year for Alfa Romeo-Ferrari, stepping into Kimi Raikkonen’s car for the session. These practice outings are crucial for providing feedback to the team and helping with car development, though they often see the substitute drivers at the lower end of the timesheets as they adapt to the car and specific testing programmes.

The first free practice session at the Hungaroring provided an intriguing glimpse into the potential pecking order for the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. While Mercedes’ dominance remained unchallenged at the top, the strong showing from Racing Point, the improved performance from Ferrari, and the unexpected struggles of Red Bull have all set the stage for an exciting weekend of Formula 1 action. Tyre management and understanding the nuances of the twisty Hungarian circuit will be key factors in determining success, as teams continue to gather data and refine their strategies ahead of qualifying and Sunday’s main event.

The Hungaroring, with its undulating terrain and constant sequence of corners, offers a stark contrast to the high-speed layouts of the Red Bull Ring. This particular track demands maximum downforce and exceptional mechanical grip, rewarding cars that are well-balanced and agile. The cooler temperatures forecasted for parts of the weekend could also play a significant role, affecting tyre performance and strategic decisions. For teams battling in the midfield, consistency and avoiding mistakes will be paramount, as the compact nature of the circuit offers few overtaking opportunities, making grid position exceptionally critical.

As teams head into FP2, the focus will shift towards longer runs and race simulations, giving a clearer picture of their race pace and tyre degradation. The data gathered from FP1, despite some compromised sessions for certain drivers, will be invaluable for engineers working tirelessly to extract every ounce of performance from their machines. The saga surrounding Racing Point’s car will undoubtedly continue to be a talking point, adding another layer of intrigue to what promises to be a captivating Hungarian Grand Prix.

Ultimately, the first practice session served as a clear indicator of Mercedes’ formidable strength, with Hamilton leading the charge. However, the unexpected challenges faced by Red Bull and the promising signs from Ferrari and Racing Point ensure that the Hungarian Grand Prix is far from a foregone conclusion. Fans can anticipate a thrilling weekend as the battle for supremacy and vital championship points unfolds at this iconic circuit.

Pos.	No.	Driver	Car	Best lap	Gap	Laps
1	44	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	1’16.003		36
2	77	Valtteri Bottas	Mercedes	1’16.089	0.086	37
3	11	Sergio Perez	Racing Point-Mercedes	1’16.530	0.527	20
4	18	Lance Stroll	Racing Point-Mercedes	1’16.967	0.964	35
5	3	Daniel Ricciardo	Renault	1’17.200	1.197	28
6	5	Sebastian Vettel	Ferrari	1’17.238	1.235	26
7	16	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1’17.404	1.401	29
8	33	Max Verstappen	Red Bull-Honda	1’17.435	1.432	28
9	4	Lando Norris	McLaren-Renault	1’17.523	1.520	26
10	31	Esteban Ocon	Renault	1’17.615	1.612	34
11	55	Carlos Sainz Jnr	McLaren-Renault	1’17.675	1.672	32
12	20	Kevin Magnussen	Haas-Ferrari	1’17.713	1.710	34
13	23	Alexander Albon	Red Bull-Honda	1’17.727	1.724	27
14	8	Romain Grosjean	Haas-Ferrari	1’17.890	1.887	35
15	6	Nicholas Latifi	Williams-Mercedes	1’17.969	1.966	31
16	26	Daniil Kvyat	AlphaTauri-Honda	1’18.292	2.289	35
17	99	Antonio Giovinazzi	Alfa Romeo-Ferrari	1’18.425	2.422	30
18	63	George Russell	Williams-Mercedes	1’18.574	2.571	29
19	88	Robert Kubica	Alfa Romeo-Ferrari	1’19.150	3.147	26
20	10	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri-Honda			0

First practice visual gaps

Drivers more then ten seconds off the pace omitted.

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