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Final Hungary Practice Session Crucial Ahead of Qualifying
Formula 1 drivers have one final hour today to fine-tune their setups before the all-important qualifying session later on Saturday afternoon.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-07-25T10:15:00.000Z - 2 min read
On the technical and challenging Hungaroring circuit, Free Practice 3 for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix has just gotten underway. This marks the final opportunity for teams and drivers to perfect their car setups before the battle for grid positions begins.
The session, which traditionally lasts one hour, provides an intensive opportunity to prepare both car and driver. Following yesterday's first two practice sessions, where data was gathered and various configurations were tested, it is now all about the fine details. Every lap counts when trying to extract maximum performance from the car.
This final practice session is of vital importance for qualifying, which takes place in just a few hours. It represents the ultimate chance to experiment with tire choices, fuel loads, and high-speed balance. Minor adjustments can make a major difference on a track where overtaking opportunities are scarce and a good grid position is crucial.
The Hungaroring is renowned for its tight and twisty nature, putting drivers' concentration and precision to a stern test. A perfectly setup car that responds well to driver input is worth its weight in gold here. Furthermore, track evolution and grip development are often key focal points, especially during Saturday's early hours.
During this hour, teams will not only focus on setting fast lap times for qualifying simulations. Shorter runs and potential adjustments for race pace will also be covered if any uncertainties remain from Friday. Gathering as much relevant data as possible in this final hour is a top priority.
Among the drivers on track is naturally Max Verstappen, who, like his rivals, aims to put the finishing touches on his preparations. For every driver, finding a rhythm and entering qualifying with complete confidence is key, where every tenth of a second counts.
The results and performances in this third practice session will therefore provide a strong indication of the competitive order to expect in qualifying later today. In a sense, Sunday's podium battle already begins with the setup choices and confidence established right here.