Norris dominates FP2 in Hungary, Red Bull struggles

The second practice session for the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix concluded with Lando Norris once again setting the pace, solidifying McLaren's strong start to the weekend. Under warm and sunny conditions, with air temperatures around 26.8°C and track temperatures at 35.4°C, teams pushed their cars to the limit, revealing a fascinating pecking order that promises an exciting Saturday and Sunday.

McLaren's Unstoppable Friday

Lando Norris continued his impressive form from FP1, topping the second practice session with a best lap of 1:15.624. His McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, was close behind in second, albeit nearly three-tenths adrift this time. The papaya cars appear to be perfectly suited to the twisty Hungaroring circuit, with Norris openly stating his affinity for the track and its demands. While both drivers showed immense pace, they also demonstrated the fine margins at play, with Piastri kicking up dust after running wide and Norris experiencing a significant slide, though he managed to keep it on track. McLaren's consistent front-running performance makes them the team to beat heading into the crucial qualifying session.

Ferrari and Aston Martin Emerge as Strong Contenders

Behind the dominant McLarens, Charles Leclerc maintained his strong showing, securing third place for Ferrari, just under four-tenths off Norris's pace. The Monegasque driver looked comfortable and quick, suggesting Ferrari could be in the mix for at least a podium finish this weekend. Adding to Ferrari's promising day, Lewis Hamilton, despite expressing some dissatisfaction with his car in FP1, improved to sixth in FP2, indicating progress in finding a more suitable setup.

Aston Martin also had a highly impressive session. Lance Stroll finished a commendable fourth, less than a tenth behind Leclerc, showcasing genuine pace from the Silverstone-based squad. Fernando Alonso, who sat out FP1 due to a back injury, made a strong return, completing 25 laps and securing fifth place. His ability to immediately get up to speed after missing the earlier session highlights both his resilience and the car's potential. With both Aston Martin drivers in the top five, their performance looks very promising for the remainder of the weekend.

Red Bull's Unexpected Woes

In stark contrast to their usual dominance, Red Bull experienced a challenging Friday. Max Verstappen finished a surprising 14th, openly stating that his car felt "undriveable." This is an unusual position for the reigning champion, and while Red Bull has a proven track record of turning around difficult Fridays, the significant deficit raises questions. Interestingly, his teammate Yuki Tsunoda fared better, placing ninth, a rare instance of him outperforming Verstappen in a practice session. Adding to Red Bull's concerns, Verstappen is under investigation for throwing an object (a towel) out of his cockpit, a matter the stewards will review after the session.

Midfield Battles and Rookie Highlights

Mercedes also appeared to struggle for outright pace, with George Russell finishing seventh and Kimi Antonelli in tenth. The team even reverted to an older rear suspension specification, suggesting they are still searching for optimal performance.

The session also saw several rookies continue to impress. Isack Hadjar, driving for Racing Bulls, delivered another strong performance, securing eighth place and demonstrating his potential. Oliver Bearman for Haas also showed good speed, finishing 11th. Gabriel Bortoleto for Kick Sauber, who also had limited running in FP1, ended up 17th.

Carlos Sainz in the Williams faced technical issues, losing telemetry and DRS functionality, which hampered his running and left him in 16th. Traffic was also a notable factor in the closing stages, with drivers like Hadjar expressing frustration over slower cars on track.

Looking Ahead to Qualifying and Race Day

As FP2 concluded with practice starts, teams gathered crucial data for both qualifying simulations and longer race runs. Most teams opted for soft tyres for their flying laps before switching to medium or hard compounds for extended stints. The forecast for Sunday still includes a high possibility of rain, which could throw a curveball into race strategies and make tyre management even more critical.

With McLaren looking strong, Ferrari and Aston Martin showing genuine pace, and Red Bull facing an uphill battle, the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend is shaping up to be an unpredictable and thrilling affair. All eyes will be on FP3 tomorrow to see if Red Bull can find the answers they need and how the competitive landscape evolves before the all-important qualifying session.