Charles Leclerc handed Ferrari an ideal start to the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend by topping the timesheets in the opening free practice session (FP1) at the Hungaroring. While the Ferrari driver impressed with his pace, the FIA also found itself busy investigating separate incidents involving Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz.
Leclerc looked confident from the outset, with Ferrari appearing competitive around the twisty Budapest circuit. The Monegasque driver steadily improved throughout the one-hour session before posting a best lap of 1:19.075, finishing fastest and giving Ferrari an encouraging early advantage.
The Ferrari package appeared well suited to the Hungaroring’s demanding layout, offering strong balance through the circuit’s slow and medium-speed corners. As track conditions improved, Leclerc continued to extract more performance, ending the session comfortably at the top of the leaderboard.
His pace will give Ferrari plenty of confidence heading into the rest of the weekend, with the team hoping to convert its strong start into a front-row qualifying position and a genuine challenge for victory on Sunday.
Away from the timing screens, attention turned to the FIA after race stewards opened separate investigations involving reigning world champion Max Verstappen and Williams driver Carlos Sainz. Both drivers were placed under review following incidents during FP1 that were considered potential breaches of the sporting regulations.
As is standard practice, the stewards launched formal investigations to determine whether either driver had violated any rules that could result in further action. Such reviews are common during practice sessions, where traffic, yellow flags, or other on-track situations often require closer examination.
Verstappen’s investigation quickly became one of the main talking points in the paddock. Although the Red Bull driver did not feature at the very top of the timesheets, his session attracted attention for reasons beyond outright pace. Sainz was also summoned over a separate matter, ensuring both cases would remain under scrutiny until the FIA reaches its verdict.
Despite those developments, Ferrari’s impressive performance remained the headline story. The team’s early speed suggests it has arrived in Budapest with a strong setup capable of handling one of Formula 1’s most technical circuits, where downforce, tyre management, and precision are all crucial.
However, with two more practice sessions still to come, the competitive picture could change as rival teams continue refining their setups and focusing on race simulations rather than outright lap times.
For now, Ferrari has every reason to be optimistic after Leclerc’s dominant FP1 display, while the Formula 1 paddock awaits the FIA’s decisions on the investigations involving Verstappen and Sainz before attention shifts to the remainder of the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.
