August 1-3

Norris Dominates Opening Day at Hungarian Grand Prix

The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend kicked off today at the iconic Hungaroring circuit, with Free Practice sessions 1 and 2 setting the tone for what promises to be an intense battle. McLaren’s Lando Norris was the standout performer on Friday, topping both sessions with lap times of 1:17.631 in FP1 and an impressive 1:15.624 in FP2. His teammate Oscar Piastri followed closely behind in both outings, confirming McLaren’s strong form on the twisty Hungarian track.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc managed to secure third place in FP1, while reigning World Champion Max Verstappen experienced a surprisingly difficult day. The Red Bull driver ended FP1 in ninth and FP2 all the way down in 14th, struggling with balance and pace throughout the day. To add to his woes, Verstappen found himself under investigation by the stewards for a bizarre incident involving a towel left on the racing line at Turn 3.

McLaren’s consistent pace has raised eyebrows in the paddock, with Norris looking particularly sharp through the technical middle sector. The Woking-based team appears to have brought a strong package to Budapest, potentially setting up a fierce qualifying session tomorrow. If current form holds, the fight for pole may come down to a head-to-head between the two McLaren drivers.

Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday, August 2, and with championship standings tightening, every point will be critical heading into the summer break. All eyes will be on Norris to see if he can translate his dominant practice form into pole position — and whether Verstappen can bounce back before Sunday’s main event.