Five Drivers Miss Hungarian GP FP1 as F1 Mandatory Rookie Runs Begin
Five Formula 1 regulars sat out Friday's opening practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix as teams fulfilled their mandatory rookie running requirements. Mercedes fielded Frederik Vesti in place of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, while McLaren's Leonardo Fornaroli drove Oscar Piastri's car. Paul Aron substituted for Franco Colapinto at Alpine, Ryo Hirakawa took Oliver Bearman's seat at Haas, and Colton Herta replaced Valtteri Bottas at Cadillac. Under 2026 FIA regulations, all teams must provide at least two FP1 outings to young drivers during the season. The regulars returned from FP2 onwards, with the rookie performances closely watched by their respective teams.
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Alonso Back Injury Rules Him Out of FP1; Drugovich Steps In for Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso missed the first practice session at the Hungarian Grand Prix after suffering a back problem that medical staff deemed too painful to race through. Aston Martin reserve driver Felipe Drugovich stepped into the AMR26 and completed FP1 without incident. Alonso's race weekend status was initially uncertain, though he was subsequently cleared to return to the cockpit from FP2 onwards. The injury came at a particularly awkward moment for the 44-year-old Spaniard, as Aston Martin unveiled their most substantial upgrade package of the 2026 season at the Hungaroring this weekend — a critical step the team hopes can transform their mid-season fortunes. Alonso spent time with team physios before being given the green light for FP2.
McLaren Brings 'Significant' New Floor to Hungary; Norris Tops FP1
McLaren arrived at the Hungaroring with what the team describes as a significant aerodynamic update package, including a revised floor and new bodywork elements, aimed at closing the gap to championship-leading Mercedes. Lando Norris subsequently topped the opening practice session, with the new specification running on the MCL38 for the first time in a race-weekend environment. Norris was characteristically measured, describing the team as 'cautious' about reading too much into early practice performance while the new components are better understood. The upgrade represents McLaren's most ambitious technical step since mid-season and was motivated by the performance advantage Mercedes demonstrated throughout the first half of the campaign.
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Aston Martin's 'Make-or-Break' Upgrade Package Arrives at Hungaroring
Aston Martin arrived at the Hungarian Grand Prix with what team principals describe as the AMR26's most comprehensive technical update of the 2026 season — a package seen internally as a make-or-break moment for the team's campaign. The Silverstone outfit has endured what rivals have bluntly called the weakest car on the grid, and the Hungary upgrade targets fundamental aerodynamic deficiencies. Fernando Alonso, despite missing FP1 with a back injury, offered positive early impressions ahead of the weekend. Questions persist about the team's spare parts inventory as they navigate a critical upgrade race against mid-field rivals. Lance Stroll and Alonso have scored just one championship point between them all season.
Hamilton Insists Ferrari 'Really Believes' It Can Fight for 2026 World Championship
Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari has what it takes to overhaul championship leader Kimi Antonelli in the second half of the 2026 season, declaring that the entire Scuderia team 'really believes' a title challenge is possible. Hamilton trails Antonelli by 45 points heading into the Hungarian Grand Prix — the final round before the summer break — meaning Ferrari must make meaningful gains before racing resumes in September. The seven-time world champion praised the trajectory of the SF-26 and expressed genuine optimism about the team's development pace. Hamilton currently sits second in the standings with 159 points to Antonelli's 204, with George Russell a further five points back in third.
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Hamilton: 'Worlds Away' from 'Useless' 2025 F1 Low as He Teases Documentary
Lewis Hamilton used the Hungarian Grand Prix media day to reflect on the remarkable reversal of his fortunes since he described his final season at Mercedes in 2025 as 'useless.' Now second in the championship with Ferrari and fighting for an eighth title, Hamilton said he feels 'worlds away' from those lows and is energised by the prospect of becoming the most decorated world champion in the sport's history. The 41-year-old also teased details of an upcoming documentary chronicling his move from Mercedes to Ferrari and what unfolded behind the scenes. Hamilton's revival at Maranello has become one of the defining story arcs of the 2026 season.
Mercedes Confirms Fix for Russell's Power Unit Software Glitch That Caused Belgian GP Crash
Mercedes confirmed at the Hungarian Grand Prix that engineers have identified and resolved the power unit software fault that caused George Russell's race-ending collision with Lewis Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix. The glitch triggered an unexpected power reduction mid-corner during a wheel-to-wheel battle, causing Russell to brake later than Hamilton anticipated and resulting in contact that retired Russell and compromised Hamilton's race. Mercedes diagnosed the issue as a software bug rather than a hardware failure, requiring no physical component replacement. Russell arrived in Budapest optimistic that the technical cause has been eliminated, with the three-time race winner sitting third in the championship, five points behind Hamilton.
Verstappen: Red Bull Saw 2026 F1 Engine Power Crisis 'Coming Years Ago'
Max Verstappen revealed at the Hungarian Grand Prix that he and Red Bull foresaw the power unit challenges created by the 2026 technical regulations years before the season began, but were powerless to alter the championship's course. Verstappen has been among the most vocal critics of the new rules, arguing the Active Rear Aero system punishes drivers who push harder by costing them straight-line speed on the following straight — effectively neutralising the talent gap between the sport's best and average drivers. The four-time world champion currently sits seventh in the standings with just 91 points, a position that would have been unthinkable under the previous regulatory framework.
F1 in Talks Over Surprise Return of Malaysian Grand Prix to 2026 Calendar
Formula 1 is in active discussions to add a surprise Malaysian Grand Prix to the 2026 calendar, with Sepang International Circuit tipped as the venue. The race is proposed for October 4, slotting between the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on September 27 and the Singapore Grand Prix on October 11. Malaysia last hosted a Formula 1 race in 2017 before its contract lapsed over commercial disagreements. The return would bring the 2026 season's total race count to a new record. Reports suggest the race has gained significant support from teams and promoters, with a formal announcement potentially imminent. Confirmation is expected in the coming weeks if ongoing negotiations conclude successfully.
Leclerc Admits He Went 'Too Far' in Aggressive Belgian GP Clash with Piastri
Charles Leclerc acknowledged at the Hungarian Grand Prix media day that he overstepped the mark in his wheel-to-wheel battle with Oscar Piastri at the Belgian Grand Prix, saying his defensive driving 'went too far.' Leclerc escaped without a penalty from stewards at Spa despite Piastri publicly expressing frustration with the move at the time. The Ferrari driver, who finished second at Belgium to consolidate fourth place in the championship with 126 points, said he had reflected on the incident during the week and accepts his defence was excessively aggressive. Piastri had previously voiced concern about how the clash was handled by race officials.
Drivers' Championship
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) — 204 pts
2. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) — 159 pts
3. George Russell (Mercedes) — 154 pts
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) — 126 pts
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) — 103 pts
6. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) — 92 pts
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) — 91 pts
8. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) — 60 pts
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) — 42 pts
10. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) — 39 pts
11. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) — 22 pts
12. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) — 19 pts
13. Oliver Bearman (Haas) — 18 pts
14. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) — 10 pts
15. Carlos Sainz (Williams) — 6 pts
16. Alex Albon (Williams) — 5 pts
17. Esteban Ocon (Haas) — 3 pts
18. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) — 1 pts
19. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) — 0 pts
20. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) — 0 pts
21. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) — 0 pts
22. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) — 0 pts
After Round 10 — Belgian GP
Constructors' Championship
1. Mercedes — 358 pts
2. Ferrari — 285 pts
3. McLaren — 195 pts
4. Red Bull — 151 pts
5. Alpine — 61 pts
6. Racing Bulls — 61 pts
7. Haas — 21 pts
8. Williams — 11 pts
9. Audi — 10 pts
10. Aston Martin — 1 pts
11. Cadillac — 0 pts
After Round 10 — Belgian GP
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