Practice 1 Report - Russell fastest in wet practice, damage for Perez

George Russell
© Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.

By Peter Habicht

George Russell was fastest for Mercedes at Hungary’s opening practice with rain early in the session which kept a third of the field from setting a lap time. The opening minutes were dry, however, and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez made a crucial error going wide at turn five into the barriers and bringing out the red flag. As Perez’ car was cleared with the session restarted, rain began to fall with increasing intensity which kept the field from running.

With more rain falling, drivers ventured out on intermediate tires, and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was next to bring out the red flag after he spun at turn three. With 10 minutes left in the session, Russell was fastest, with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri behind followed by the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll and Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris fourth fastest.

Stroll’s teammate Fernando Alonso was fifth quickest, followed by Alfa Romeo of Valtteri Bottas the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and the other Alfa of Guanyu Zhou. The Williams of Logan Sargeant was ninth fastest, followed by the Haas’ of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.

Yuki Tsunoda was 12th fastest, having hit the wall late in the session, followed by the other Williams of Alex Albon, who was the last of the drivers to set a time.

Hungary marks a new qualifying tire rule, with teams required to use one tire compound per round, staring with the hardest compound in Q1 and increasing in softness each round. Intermediate and wet tires are permitted at any stage.

This weekend also marks Daniel Ricciardo’s return to a new race seat with Alpha Tauri, but due to the lack of dry running, he was one of several drivers who opted not to set a lap time including Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, as well as Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.

Free practice two begins at 5pm in Hungary.