Motor racing-Norris fastest in final Hungarian GP practice, Hamilton second


Formula One F1 - Hungarian Grand Prix - Hungaroring, Budapest, Hungary - July 24, 2026 McLaren's Lando Norris during practice REUTERS/Marton Monus

BUDAPEST, July ⁠25 (Reuters) - McLaren's reigning world champion Lando Norris was fastest ⁠in final practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix on ‌Saturday.

Last year's race winner lapped the Hungaroring circuit with a best time of one minute 17.939 seconds, 0.117 quicker than Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.

Formula One championship ​leader Kimi Antonelli was third fastest, 0.129 ⁠off the pace and ⁠ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Mercedes teammate ⁠George ‌Russell.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was seventh on the timesheets, with teammate Isack Hadjar eighth but 1.004 off the ⁠pace.

Hamilton will be chasing his 10th Hungarian GP ​pole in later ‌qualifying with the Briton also targeting a record ninth ⁠win at ​the circuit outside Budapest. Ferrari were fastest in both Friday sessions.

Antonelli, winner of six races so far this season, has a 45-point lead ⁠over Hamilton after 10 rounds.

The session ​was halted with 39 minutes to go when Cadillac's Sergio Perez stopped on track with smoking brakes and without setting a proper ⁠time.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were 17th and 18th respectively with a heavily upgraded car, with the Spaniard 2.454 off the pace and the Canadian 2.994 slower than Norris.

Racing ​Bulls' rookie Arvid Lindblad managed only six ⁠laps after an engine change but was still 13th fastest.

Williams drivers ​Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon occupied ‌the 20th and 21st positions respectively ​and were slower than Cadillac's Valtteri Bottas and the Aston Martins.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin; editing by Clare Fallon)

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