Coming off a dominant Belgian GP weekend, McLaren continued where they left off during free practice on the Friday before the Hungarian GP. Both sessions were topped by Lando Norris, closely followed by Oscar Piastri. So all signs are pointing to the papaya duo slugging it out for the win come Sunday.
Norris confident for pole
Norris topped both practices, with a slightly bigger gap to his team mate in the second session. So obviously he was satisfied with how the car felt, despite a messier second practice.
“I mean, the car, since the first lap, felt pretty good,” Norris analysed his practice ahead of the Hungarian GP. “All my laps have been decent. I think this session then was a little bit more messy, just in low fuel, high fuel, a few more mistakes, but all part of it, all part of practise and trying to find the limits in different areas.
“So, yeah, good understandings. I think I know what I want from the car, but yeah, it might be a bit harder trying to get it.”
Last year he started from pole, so obviously Norris feels he can fight for that again this weekend.
“I have a better car than I had last year,” he said. “So, more chance, but yeah, some tough competition.”
That tough competition being his team mate, with whom he had a little kerfuffle during FP2. Which in turn meant he didn’t have a clear image of his race pace.
“I need to have a look. I don’t know what I was like. I spent more time trying to race people than just do race laps.
“So, yeah, it doesn’t really matter today at the minute, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Piastri keeps an eye out for Ferrari
On the other side of the garage the confidence was similarly high. It didn’t come naturally however, Piastri explained.
“We’ve had to change a few things and try and make the car a bit better, but the performance has been very good. All in all, pretty happy.
“Some things to tidy up. It wasn’t the smoothest of FP2s, but I think the underlying pace is good, so I’m excited for the rest of the weekend.”
One of the main things that differed in practice from last year’s Hungarian GP was the grip level, according to Piastri.
“I think just the grip level was very high today,” the championship leader explained. “The car has been quick all day. In FP1, it behaved a bit unexpectedly, so we changed a few things and made it a lot better for FP2, but now just fine-tuning the normal things.
“I think just the grip level was a lot higher than we expected, especially compared to last year, so just those things.”
McLaren’s nearest competitor during practice was Ferrari, and despite the gap Piastri was weary about the scarlet danger.
“I think this is a track that should suit us quite well, and it has done previously. Ferrari looked quick in FP1.
“I’ve not seen the long runs from FP2, but I think we’re in a good place.”
