The Hungarian Grand Prix practice sessions on July 19, 2024, delivered unexpected results and dramatic moments, reshaping expectations for the upcoming qualifying and race. McLaren’s Lando Norris emerged as the surprise leader in the second free practice session, setting the fastest time of 1:17.788, outpacing championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull by 0.243 seconds.The day was not without incident, as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc lost control of his car and crashed into the barriers at turn 4, causing a red flag and a 15-minute interruption to the session. This accident cost Leclerc valuable track time and could potentially impact his performance in the upcoming qualifying session.Red Bull, while not at the top, showed mixed results. Max Verstappen, despite finishing second, couldn’t match Norris’s pace. However, Sergio Pérez demonstrated significant improvement, finishing fourth in the second session after a challenging start in the first practice. Pérez expressed satisfaction with his progress, stating he felt ‘more comfortable with the car than ever before’.Mercedes faced unexpected challenges, with Lewis Hamilton describing the team as ‘a step behind’ in terms of performance. George Russell managed to secure fifth place in the second practice, but the team acknowledges the need for overnight improvements to compete at the top.The practice sessions have set the stage for an intriguing qualifying round, with teams working on different setups and strategies. The unexpected performances have added an element of unpredictability to the race weekend, promising an exciting Hungarian Grand Prix.
Key points
- Lando Norris of McLaren led the second practice session with a time of 1:17.
- Charles Leclerc crashed during the session, causing a red flag and losing valuable practice time.
- Sergio Pérez showed improvement, finishing fourth in the second session.
- Mercedes struggled, with Lewis Hamilton calling the team ‘a step behind’.
788.
Contradictions👾While most sources report Norris leading the second practice session, one source incorrectly states that Carlos Sainz led the first practice session, which contradicts the majority of reports.
