Leclerc tops first practice as Aston Martin suffers rear-suspension failure
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in the opening practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix, while Lance Stroll retired after a rear-suspension break on the newly upgraded Aston Martin.
Charles Leclerc recorded the quickest lap in the first practice session at the Hungaroring, edging out Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver stopped his car with six minutes remaining, prompting a brief debrief with his engineers.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll spun out after the left-rear suspension appeared to break while navigating Turn Three, about 20 minutes before the session ended. The team, which has introduced a major upgrade package for this race, sent teammate Fernando Alonso back onto the track; he posted a 13th-fastest time, a notable improvement from earlier weekends.
Williams driver Carlos Sainz was investigated after two incidents of erratic driving, including a lock-up at Turn One that briefly triggered a yellow flag. Oscar Piastri also suffered a lock-up and abandoned his lap.
The session concluded with plans to resume for a second practice at 15:45 BST.