Hamilton and Leclerc keep Ferrari grounded despite dominant Hungary practice

Ferrari laid down a commanding marker on the opening day of the Hungarian Grand Prix, sweeping both Friday practice sessions with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finishing comfortably clear of the field. Despite the Scuderia's dominant display around the resurfaced Hungaroring, neither driver expects their advantage to survive once rivals unleash their true qualifying pace on Saturday.

Why it matters:

This was Ferrari's strongest Friday of the season, offering evidence that the SF-26 has hit its stride at a critical point in the title fight. Yet the team's cautious reaction underscores a familiar F1 reality: practice pace rarely translates directly to qualifying glory, and overnight gains often erase comfortable Friday margins.

The details:

• Hamilton topped FP2 with a 1m18.729s, edging Leclerc by 0.148s after the Monegasque had set the pace in FP1 earlier in the day.
• The Ferrari pair held a buffer of nearly half a second over the rest of the field in FP2, though both expect that gap to vanish in qualifying trim.
• Difficult conditions, including gusty winds and a recently resurfaced track offering low grip, caught several drivers out, yet the SF-26 adapted better than its rivals.
• Hamilton reported solid progress between sessions but noted that balance refinements are still needed before Saturday.
• Leclerc predicted the fight would compress dramatically in qualifying, insisting Ferrari will need a "perfect job" to maintain its position at the front.

What's next:

With Mercedes and Red Bull both admitting they have work to do after subdued Fridays, Saturday's qualifying session will reveal whether Ferrari's edge is genuine or a practice illusion. The Scuderia carries rare momentum into the Hungarian weekend, but converting Friday speed into pole position requires solving lingering setup issues overnight.