APEX RACEWIRE Newsroom
Hungary: GP weekend underway with opening practice sessions
At the technical Hungaroring circuit, teams and drivers have kicked off their preparations for the 2026 Grand Prix with the first two practice sessions.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-07-24T19:37:19.000Z - 2 min read
The Formula 1 circus has officially arrived in Hungary. Today, the first two practice sessions for the 2026 Grand Prix were completed at the Hungaroring. This marks the opening phase of a race weekend that traditionally demands a lot from both cars and drivers right after the summer break. Teams and their drivers immediately set to work on their crucial preparations at the challenging and technical circuit.
These practice sessions are invaluable for teams striving to find the optimal setup for their cars. Plenty of experimenting takes place with different wing angles, suspension settings, and tire compounds. Gathering as much data as possible is essential to maximize performance later in the weekend and ensure a solid balance.
The Hungaroring is known as a twisting and demanding track, often compared to a large-scale kart circuit. With an abundance of slow and medium-speed corners and hardly any long straights, downforce is paramount. Tires face heavy stress here, requiring extra attention to wear and thermal management during longer runs.
For the drivers, the key is getting accustomed quickly to the unique layout and changing grip levels on the asphalt. They run various stints to explore their car's limits and understand how it behaves with full fuel loads and fresh tires. Every lap contributes to building much-needed confidence ahead of the decisive moments.
Once the sessions conclude, engineers and mechanics head into the garages. The mountains of collected telemetry and detailed feedback from the drivers are meticulously analyzed. This information forms the foundation for fine-tuning the cars, where the smallest adjustments to the chassis or aerodynamics can make a significant difference in the battle for tenths of a second.
With the first two practice sessions now completed, focus inevitably shifts to Saturday. The third and final practice session is on the schedule, followed by all-important qualifying. This session not only determines grid positions for the race but also provides the first true indication of the competitive balance.
The results from these opening sessions, while purely indicative and not representative of the race itself, lay a crucial foundation. Without solid preparation during practice, achieving success in Formula 1 is virtually impossible. The team making the most progress and finding the best setup will create the strongest opportunities for Sunday's race.
Weather can also play an unexpected role at the Hungaroring, though conditions during today's practice produced no major surprises. The coming hours will be spent intensively scrutinizing data and defining the best strategy for the rest of the weekend, anticipating all possible scenarios.