BUDAPEST, July 25 (Reuters) – Lando Norris posted the fastest time in final practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday. The McLaren driver edged Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and rookie Kimi Antonelli. The session at the Hungaroring set the stage for a tight qualifying battle.
Norris clocked a 1m 16.432s on soft tyres. Hamilton was 0.087s behind. Antonelli, in his first F1 season, was a further 0.052s adrift. All three drivers were within a tenth of a second. The margin underscores the competitive equilibrium at the top of the field.
McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes were separated by less than 0.4s. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fourth, 0.152s off the pace. Carlos Sainz took fifth. The tight spread suggests qualifying will be a high-stakes, low-margin affair.
The Hungaroring is a 4.381km circuit with 14 corners. It demands maximum downforce and high braking stability. Track temperatures reached 48°C during FP3, accelerating tyre degradation. Teams focused on long-run simulations and one-lap pace. Norris’s lap was clean, with no major errors. Hamilton’s consistency across his stint was notable. Antonelli’s performance was the standout—he is only 19.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was sixth, 0.321s off Norris. The three-time champion had a subdued session, reporting front-end understeer. He will likely recover in qualifying. The midfield pack, led by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, remains bunched within one second of the top.
Live Updates: FP3 Flow
The session began under clear skies. No red flags were deployed. Traffic was a minor issue at Turn 4. Norris’s best sector times came in S2 and S3. Hamilton lost time in the final sector. Antonelli’s lap was compromised slightly by a slow-moving Haas. BBC Sport and Sky Sports provided live commentary throughout.
Key Data: Top 5 FP3 Times
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1m 16.432s | – |
| 2 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1m 16.519s | +0.087s |
| 3 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1m 16.571s | +0.139s |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1m 16.584s | +0.152s |
| 5 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1m 16.619s | +0.187s |
Norris is chasing his first win of 2026. He last stood on the top step at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Hamilton, driving with strong crowd support, aims to extend his record nine Hungarian GP victories. Antonelli’s raw speed signals a potential future threat.
Qualifying begins at 15:00 local time. The race is scheduled for Sunday at 14:00. Fans can follow live updates via BBC Sport or Sky Sports.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: Who set the fastest time in Hungarian Grand Prix FP3?
- A: Lando Norris posted the fastest lap with a 1m 16.432s on soft tyres.
- Q: How close were the top drivers in FP3?
- A: The top three drivers — Norris, Hamilton, and Antonelli — were within a tenth of a second of each other.
- Q: What was the track temperature during FP3?
- A: Track temperatures reached 48°C, accelerating tyre degradation.
- Q: Which driver was the standout performer in FP3?
- A: Rookie Kimi Antonelli, aged 19, impressed by finishing third in his first F1 season.
Extended Reading
Data sourced from the official Formula 1 live reports and Sky Sports F1 coverage for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. HA Viewpoint maintains no direct involvement in F1 operations or reporting.