Lando Norris showcased his strength at the Hungaroring Circuit by leading the second free practice session of the Hungary Grand Prix on Friday, August 1, 2025, in Budapest. The McLaren driver set a time of 1m15.624, outpacing his teammate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who completed the session’s top three. Brazilian Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto finished 17th, showing progress in his Formula 1 adaptation. The session, marked by incidents like Max Verstappen throwing an object onto the track, drew thousands of fans to the Hungarian circuit. McLaren’s performance reinforces their competitiveness on a demanding track, while Bortoleto seeks consistency in his debut season.
Norris’s dominance began early, with McLaren standing out since the first free practice. The British team, enjoying a strong 2025 season, capitalized on the track’s conditions to set a blistering pace. Piastri, just 0.291 seconds behind his teammate, underscored the team’s solid performance. Leclerc tried to keep up with medium tires but was overtaken when soft tires came into play.
- Key highlights of the second free practice:
- Lando Norris led with 1m15.624, followed by Piastri and Leclerc.
- Gabriel Bortoleto posted the 17th time, briefly outpacing his Sauber teammate.
- Max Verstappen faces investigation for throwing an object onto the track.
- McLaren shows strength on a technical circuit, with soft tires proving decisive.
The session saw tense moments, such as Norris’s off-track excursion at the final corner and a telemetry loss for Williams with Carlos Sainz. Despite these, the focus remained on the leaders’ performance, with McLaren solidifying their position.
McLaren in the spotlight at Hungaroring
McLaren arrived at the Hungary GP with high expectations after consistent results in recent races. The Hungaroring Circuit, known for its tight, twisty layout, favors cars with strong traction and aerodynamics—qualities McLaren leveraged expertly. Norris, who also led the first free practice, maintained consistency by setting the day’s fastest lap. His performance on soft tires in the session’s latter half was key to establishing a nearly three-tenths advantage over Piastri.
The Australian showed synergy with his teammate, keeping the gap at just 0.2 seconds at times. The McLaren duo worked together to fine-tune the car’s setup, testing configurations that could prove decisive in qualifying. The team, which heavily invested in 2025 upgrades, appears to have found the ideal balance for the Hungarian track.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc challenged McLaren early on, leading briefly with medium tires. However, switching to softs didn’t yield the same performance gains as McLaren. Lewis Hamilton, also with Ferrari, finished sixth, 0.705 seconds off Norris, suggesting the Italian team still needs adjustments to compete for the top.
- Factors that highlighted McLaren:
- Aerodynamics optimized for Hungaroring’s slow corners.
- Effective soft-tire strategy in the session’s second half.
- Collaborative work between Norris and Piastri for car setup.
Gabriel Bortoleto’s Formula 1 journey
Gabriel Bortoleto, in his debut Formula 1 season with Sauber, continues to show signs of adaptation. The Brazilian, starting the session on hard tires with a 19th-place time, improved with soft tires, briefly outperforming teammate Nico Hulkenberg. His 17th-place finish, with a 1m15.946, reflects steady progress but also the challenges of competing with a Sauber team struggling to stand out.
Hungaroring’s technical corners demand precision and confidence, areas Bortoleto is developing. His three-tenths gap to Hulkenberg, who finished 12th, shows he’s close to maximizing Sauber’s car. The team, facing technical limitations, focused on data collection to improve for qualifying and the race.
The young driver, who won the 2023 Formula 3 title, carries hopes for Brazilian motorsport. His participation in the Hungary GP is seen as a chance to gain experience on a punishing circuit where mistakes are costly.
Incidents that marked the session
The session wasn’t without unusual moments. Max Verstappen, the current championship leader, drew attention by throwing an object, possibly a towel, from his cockpit onto the track. The incident, caught on camera, will be investigated post-session, potentially leading to a warning or penalty. Verstappen, finishing 14th, struggled to find pace, trailing Norris by over a second.
Another notable moment involved Williams, which lost telemetry and GPS data for Carlos Sainz’s car. The team briefly called him to the pits but quickly reversed the decision. The issue exposed communication weaknesses, with Sainz finishing 16th and Alexander Albon 18th.
- Notable incidents in the session:
- Verstappen throws object onto track, under investigation.
- Norris goes off at the final corner but avoids damage.
- Williams faces telemetry failure with Sainz, affecting strategy.
- Soft tires drive significant shifts in the timing sheets.
Team performances on the Hungarian track
The 4.381-km, 14-corner Hungaroring Circuit is one of Formula 1’s most challenging tracks. Often likened to a karting circuit for its tight layout, it demands precision and a well-balanced car. Beyond McLaren’s dominance, Aston Martin impressed with Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso in fourth and fifth, respectively. The British team, with recent car upgrades, is finding consistency.
Mercedes, with George Russell in seventh and Kimi Antonelli in tenth, showed potential but couldn’t match McLaren. Red Bull, despite Verstappen’s incident, had Yuki Tsunoda in ninth, hinting at room for improvement. RB’s Isack Hadjar shone in eighth among midfield teams.
Haas, with Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon, finished 11th and 13th, while Alpine struggled, with Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto in the last positions. Sauber, with Bortoleto and Hulkenberg, remained lower on the leaderboard but showed signs of progress.
Preparing for qualifying
With the third free practice set for Saturday at 7:30 AM (Brasília time), teams will use the session for final tweaks before qualifying. McLaren, dominant in free practice, is the favorite for pole position, but Ferrari and Aston Martin could surprise with sharper setups. For Bortoleto, the focus is improving soft-tire pace to secure a better grid spot.
The Hungary GP, the 13th round of the 2025 season, promises to be a critical test for drivers and teams. The circuit’s overtaking challenges make qualifying crucial. Expectations are high for a tight battle, with Norris and Piastri leading the bets, while Verstappen aims to recover lost ground.