Lando Norris set the pace during Friday practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix, signaling a potentially strong weekend for McLaren. Norris topped the timesheets in FP2, outpacing his teammate Oscar Piastri by almost three-tenths of a second. The McLaren duo demonstrated impressive speed throughout the day, with Norris also leading the first practice session.

Charles Leclerc finished third in both FP1 and FP2, positioning himself as the closest competitor to the McLarens. Aston Martin showed surprising pace, with Lance Stroll leading Fernando Alonso to fourth and fifth positions in FP2.

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen, however, endured a difficult day, struggling to find the optimal setup and ending up in 14th place. Adding to his woes, Verstappen is under investigation by the stewards for throwing a towel out of his Red Bull at the exit of Turn 3 during FP2. The towel remained on the track for the rest of the session.

Several other drivers faced challenges during the practice sessions. Lewis Hamilton, an eight-time winner at the Hungaroring, struggled with his Ferrari, experiencing a massive lockup at Turn 1 and later cutting the chicane. Williams driver Alex Albon had a scary moment at Turn 8.

There were also some temporary drivers who took part in FP1. Aston Martin's reserve driver Felipe Drugovich replaced Fernando Alonso in FP1, as Alonso was suffering from a muscular injury sustained at Spar. Alpine's reserve driver Paul Aaron, who is on loan to Kick Sauber, replaced Nico Hulkenberg for the session. However, Aaron was forced to pull over at Turn 13 due to a systems issue.

The Hungaroring circuit is undergoing major renovations to enhance the fan experience and provide more comfort for drivers. The circuit is expected to have a completely different look compared to previous years.