McLaren Roars into Hungarian GP Qualifying as Fastest Team After Dominant Practice Performance
The anticipation for the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session reached a fever pitch as McLaren asserted itself as the team to beat following a sensational performance in the final practice session. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showcased blistering pace, firmly planting their MCL38s at the top of the time sheets and sending a clear message to their competitors on the twisty Hungaroring circuit.
Lando Norris, fresh off recent strong outings, set the benchmark with an impressive lap time of 1’16.098. This stellar effort was just under half a tenth faster than his promising teammate Oscar Piastri, underlining McLaren’s formidable form. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen, usually untouchable, found himself almost three tenths adrift of Norris’s fastest time, signaling a potentially thrilling battle for pole position.
Shifting Conditions and Track Challenges at Hungaroring
The conditions at the Hungaroring underwent a significant transformation from Friday’s scorching heat, which marked one of the hottest on-track days in the last two decades. Saturday morning brought a welcome change, with overcast skies delivering substantially cooler temperatures. As the final practice session commenced, the track surface temperature measured just over 40 degrees Celsius, a stark contrast to the grueling 60 degrees experienced on Friday. This reduction in temperature played a crucial role, affecting tire behavior and overall car balance, and forcing teams to adapt their setups swiftly.
Despite the cooler climate, the notoriously challenging Hungaroring continued to test drivers’ limits, particularly in its demanding heavy braking zones. Several drivers encountered difficulties managing their cars, leading to noticeable lock-ups and excursions off track. Carlos Sainz Jnr, Yuki Tsunoda, and Lance Stroll were among those who overshot turn one after heavy braking, highlighting the fine margins on this technical circuit. Charles Leclerc, still recovering from a Friday crash, was observed with tyre smoke billowing from his right-front wheel as he approached turn four, a grim reminder of the previous day’s incident and the unforgiving nature of the track.
McLaren’s Unstoppable Momentum: Norris and Piastri Shine
As the session progressed into its critical later phase, McLaren’s intent became unequivocally clear. Lando Norris bolted on a fresh set of soft tires, unleashing a remarkable lap that secured the fastest time of the entire weekend thus far. His 1’16.098 proved insurmountable, solidifying McLaren’s dominant position heading into qualifying. The exceedingly tight margin of just 0.044 seconds separating Norris from his teammate Oscar Piastri at the checkered flag speaks volumes about the team’s potent package and the strong internal competition within the Woking-based outfit. This consistent performance from both drivers suggests that McLaren has unlocked significant pace, particularly on the soft compound tires, which will be vital for a strong qualifying effort.
The impressive showing by McLaren is not merely a fluke but a testament to the significant strides the team has made throughout the season. Their recent upgrades have clearly brought them closer to the front-runners, and the Hungaroring’s characteristics, with its numerous medium-speed corners and minimal straights, appear to perfectly suit the MCL38’s strengths. This double-headed assault on the top of the leaderboard provides a huge confidence boost and positions them as genuine contenders for pole position, potentially shaking up the established pecking order.
Verstappen and the Pursuit of Red Bull
While McLaren celebrated their commanding performance, Max Verstappen secured the third-fastest time, approximately three tenths behind Norris. For Red Bull Racing, a team accustomed to absolute dominance, being outpaced by a significant margin in final practice will undoubtedly be a cause for reflection. Despite Verstappen’s inherent talent and the consistent strength of the RB20, the gap suggests that McLaren might have found a sweet spot for the Hungaroring, or that Red Bull is still fine-tuning their setup for the cooler conditions. Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, faced a more challenging session, finishing well outside the top ten in 13th. However, Perez reported satisfaction with the balance of his revised Red Bull, indicating that the team might be focusing on race pace or experimenting with setup changes that didn’t immediately translate to single-lap speed. Red Bull’s engineers will be working tirelessly to bridge the gap and unleash the full potential of the RB20 ahead of the crucial qualifying session.
Mercedes and Ferrari: Mixed Fortunes and Strategic Plays
Mercedes experienced a session of mixed fortunes. George Russell delivered a solid performance, securing fourth place as the fastest Mercedes driver, demonstrating the potential of the W15. His consistent pace bodes well for the team’s qualifying prospects. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton endured a more dramatic practice. He spun at turn nine after losing the rear of his Mercedes, coming to a halt on the grass facing backwards over the track. Fortunately, Hamilton managed to recover and continue, eventually finishing the session in tenth place. This incident highlights the challenges of pushing the limits on the Hungaroring and the fine line between grip and oversteer. Mercedes will be analyzing the data closely to ensure both cars are optimized for qualifying and the race.
Ferrari also displayed a split in performance. Carlos Sainz Jnr put in a commendable effort, placing fifth, just half a second off Norris’s blistering pace. His consistent speed indicates a strong baseline for the Scuderia. However, Charles Leclerc, who had a costly crash on Friday, adopted a more cautious approach. He finished 11th, admitting that he had not pushed as hard as he could have, particularly in the final sector of his fastest lap. This conservative strategy is understandable given his recent incident, but Ferrari will need both drivers firing on all cylinders to challenge for front-row grid positions. The team’s focus will now be on extracting maximum performance from Leclerc while maintaining Sainz’s strong form.
Midfield Marvels and Unexpected Struggles
The final practice session also provided promising signs for several traditional midfield teams, indicating a tightening field and exciting battles throughout the grid. RB, formerly AlphaTauri, showcased impressive strength with both drivers in the top ten. Daniel Ricciardo, continuing his strong return to form, secured an excellent sixth position, while Yuki Tsunoda was not far behind in ninth, with barely a tenth of a second separating the two. This collective performance from RB highlights their potential for a strong qualifying and points finish, especially given the tight nature of the midfield. Alexander Albon continued to defy expectations, guiding his Williams to a remarkable seventh-fastest time. This performance is particularly noteworthy as Williams did not anticipate being strong at the Hungaroring, a circuit that typically doesn’t favor their car’s characteristics. Albon’s skill and the team’s development have clearly paid dividends. Nico Hulkenberg also delivered a strong showing for Haas, securing eighth place, underlining the competitive nature of the midfield battle.
Conversely, some teams faced unexpected challenges. The two Aston Martins, often strong contenders, found themselves significantly off the pace. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll managed only 14th and 15th, respectively. This performance is a surprising downturn for Aston Martin, a team that generally excels on technical, high-downforce circuits like the Hungaroring. Their engineers will face an intense period of analysis to understand why they are struggling and how to unlock more performance before qualifying. The session also saw Valtteri Bottas in 12th for Sauber, while Logan Sargeant in the other Williams was 16th. Alpine (Pierre Gasly 18th, Esteban Ocon 20th) and Haas (Kevin Magnussen 19th) rounded out the bottom of the timesheets, suggesting they have work to do to escape the early exit zones in qualifying.
Looking Ahead: The Crucial Qualifying Session
As the dust settled on the final practice session, the stage is now set for a thrilling qualifying battle at the Hungarian Grand Prix. McLaren’s unexpected surge to the top has injected immense excitement into the weekend, posing a serious challenge to the dominant Red Bull team. The cooler track conditions, coupled with the Hungaroring’s unique demands, have created an unpredictable landscape where tire management, car balance, and driver precision will be paramount. Every team will be meticulously analyzing the data from FP3, fine-tuning their strategies, and making last-minute adjustments to extract every ounce of performance from their machinery.
The prospect of Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri challenging Max Verstappen for pole position is a tantalizing one, promising a captivating session where every tenth of a second will count. Mercedes and Ferrari, despite their mixed practice results, possess the capability to bounce back and join the fight at the front. The midfield, as always, is incredibly tight, with RB, Williams, and Haas demonstrating the potential to upset the established order. The Hungaroring is renowned for being a difficult track to overtake on, making grid position exceptionally crucial for Sunday’s race. With so much at stake, Formula 1 fans can anticipate a gripping qualifying session that will undoubtedly shape the narrative of the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix.
2024 Hungarian Grand Prix Third Practice Result
| P. | # | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’16.098 | |
| 2 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’16.142 | 0.044 |
| 3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB20 | 1’16.379 | 0.281 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W15 | 1’16.564 | 0.466 |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’16.639 | 0.541 |
| 6 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’16.652 | 0.554 |
| 7 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW46 | 1’16.661 | 0.563 |
| 8 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | VF-24 | 1’16.696 | 0.598 |
| 9 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’16.744 | 0.646 |
| 10 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W15 | 1’16.786 | 0.688 |
| 11 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’16.803 | 0.705 |
| 12 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber-Ferrari | C44 | 1’16.804 | 0.706 |
| 13 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB20 | 1’16.954 | 0.856 |
| 14 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | 1’17.001 | 0.903 |
| 15 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | 1’17.085 | 0.987 |
| 16 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | FW46 | 1’17.168 | 1.070 |
| 17 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber-Ferrari | C44 | 1’17.291 | 1.193 |
| 18 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’17.499 | 1.401 |
| 19 | 20 | Kevin Magnappen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-24 | 1’17.507 | 1.409 |
| 20 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’17.575 | 1.477 |
2024 Hungarian Grand Prix Combined Practice Times
| P. | # | Driver | Team | FP1 time | FP2 time | FP3 time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’19.211 | 1’17.788 | 1’16.098 | 0 | |
| 2 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’19.249 | 1’18.618 | 1’16.142 | 0.044 | 0 |
| 3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | 1’18.989 | 1’18.031 | 1’16.379 | 0.281 | 0 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1’19.137 | 1’18.294 | 1’16.564 | 0.466 | 0 |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 1’18.713 | 1’18.185 | 1’16.639 | 0.541 | 0 |
| 6 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | RB-Honda RBPT | 1’19.578 | 1’18.371 | 1’16.652 | 0.554 | 0 |
| 7 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | 1’19.794 | 1’18.514 | 1’16.661 | 0.563 | 0 |
| 8 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | 1’18.791 | 1’16.696 | 0.598 | 0 | |
| 9 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB-Honda RBPT | 1’19.260 | 1’19.606 | 1’16.744 | 0.646 | 0 |
| 10 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’19.287 | 1’18.363 | 1’16.786 | 0.688 | 0 |
| 11 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’19.011 | 1’19.286 | 1’16.803 | 0.705 | 0 |
| 12 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’19.804 | 1’18.586 | 1’16.804 | 0.706 | 0 |
| 13 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | 1’19.440 | 1’18.255 | 1’16.954 | 0.856 | 0 |
| 14 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’19.686 | 1’18.519 | 1’17.001 | 0.903 | 0 |
| 15 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’19.265 | 1’19.179 | 1’17.085 | 0.987 | 0 |
| 16 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams-Mercedes | 1’19.885 | 1’18.611 | 1’17.168 | 1.070 | 0 |
| 17 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’19.180 | 1’20.067 | 1’17.291 | 1.193 | 0 |
| 18 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | 1’19.976 | 1’18.888 | 1’17.499 | 1.401 | 0 |
| 19 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | 1’20.295 | 1’18.315 | 1’17.507 | 1.409 | 0 |
| 20 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 1’20.023 | 1’18.754 | 1’17.575 | 1.477 | 0 |
| 21 | 50 | Oliver Bearman | Haas-Ferrari | 1’20.371 | 4.273 | 0 |
2024 Hungarian Grand Prix
- Verstappen names Hungarian GP the most stressful moment of his title-winning year
- McLaren team orders “a new situation we’re inexperienced at handling” – Piastri
- Verstappen dismisses critics of “vocal” radio messages and late-night simracing
- Norris’ former McLaren team mates say he was right to give up win
- Mercedes surprised Hamilton’s car was “completely unscathed” in Verstappen clash
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