Reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton topped the first practice session for Formula 1’s Hungarian Grand Prix in overcast conditions at the Hungaroring.
A spate of light showers threatened to disrupt running but ultimately drivers were able to carry out substantial laps on slick tyres, just a few days after the crazy German Grand Prix.
Hamilton got back on track after his Hockenheim disaster by posting a time of 1:17.233, as he wound up 0.165s quicker than last weekend’s race winner Max Verstappen.
Verstappen had two spins during the session, once at Turn 13 and the other through the final corner, as he struggled with instability on corner entry.
Hamilton’s nearest title rival Valtteri Bottas completed just two laps as a power unit problem was detected on his Mercedes W10.
With Mercedes unable to trace the exact problem the team opted to undertake a change of power unit, to one already in his pool, which meant he took no further part in the session.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was third, just 0.001s behind Verstappen, while Pierre Gasly bounced back from a difficult German Grand Prix to place fourth, within three-tenths of his team-mate.
Kevin Magnussen put Haas’ current-spec VF-19 into fifth place, with team-mate Romain Grosjean down in 12th in the Melbourne-spec car.
A frustrated Grosjean radioed Haas to inform the team that he was struggling with “oversteer, understeer, everything”, as the squad continues its split-car evaluations.
Charles Leclerc was a subdued sixth as he trialled Ferrari’s updated bargeboards, while Nico Hulkenberg took seventh for Renault, in front of McLaren pair Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr.
Kimi Raikkonen completed the top 10 for Alfa Romeo, in front of Daniel Ricciardo, the aforementioned Grosjean, Toro Rosso pair Daniil Kvyat and Alexander Albon.
Racing Point had a difficult session as Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll both suffered spins, placing only 15th and 18th respectively, with the youngster behind Williams’ George Russell.
Russell showed encouraging pace to classify within two-tenths of a second of Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi, though team-mate Robert Kubica was over half a second adrift of the field in 19th spot.
Friday’s second 90-minute practice session will begin at 15:00 local time
