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Hungarian practice: Ferrari dominates on paper, but appearances deceive
Ferrari looked surprisingly fast during free practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix, though the true balance of power appears much closer than the timesheets suggest.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-07-24T19:01:23.000Z - 2 min read
At first glance, Ferrari enjoyed an outstanding start to the race weekend at the Hungaroring, host of the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Italian squad dominated both free practice sessions on Friday, building an impressive gap of around half a second over their nearest rivals, as shown by the timesheets.
This dominant performance initially suggested that the Scuderia had established itself comfortably at the front of the field. Drivers and team members from rival outfits could seemingly only watch on with envy as the red cars set the fastest lap times with striking ease around the technical and twisting circuit.
Yet that initial impression of total superiority can be misleading, as experienced observers in the Formula 1 paddock frequently witness. The dynamic of Friday practice sessions—where teams run vastly different programmes, fuel loads, and tyre tests—can significantly distort raw lap times.
To gain a more accurate and representative picture of true performance, analysts and teams typically focus on so-called 'long runs'. These extended stints with heavy fuel loads offer a far clearer indication of race pace and tyre degradation over a longer distance.
It is precisely those long runs, carefully executed towards the end of second practice, that add essential nuance to the seemingly vast gulf. They reveal that the competition, despite looking well adrift on the single-lap clock, is likely breathing down Ferrari's neck far more closely than first assumed.
Deeper analysis of Friday's collected data suggests that the competitive grid is far tighter than Ferrari's headline lap times imply. This means the battle for pole position and coveted podium spots in Hungary is likely to be far more intense and unpredictable than a superficial glance at the timing monitor indicated.
So while Ferrari undeniably enjoyed a strong opening to the weekend, jumping to conclusions about their invincibility would be premature. The weekend at the Hungaroring remains wide open, with a field that, when scrutinised in detail, is much closer together than it first appeared.