Oscar Piastri edged out team-mate Lando Norris to top final practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix as the battle between the McLaren duo ramped up ahead of qualifying.
Having finished second to Norris in both of Friday’s sessions, world championship leader Piastri turned the tables on his team-mate to strike the first blow on Saturday by a margin of just three hundredths of a second.
In what is fast becoming a two-horse race for the drivers’ title between the McLaren pair, Piastri holds a 16-point lead over Norris going into the final race before the summer break on Sunday.
Piastri’s time of 1:14.916 was more than three tenths quicker than Norris’ pole effort in Budapest last year, highlighting the incredible level of performance the runaway Constructors’ Championship leaders are consistently producing in 2025.
Ferrari were the best of the rest as Charles Leclerc finished four tenths behind Piastri in third. Lewis Hamilton took fourth but remained significantly off the pace of his team-mate with three tenths separating them.
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Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar had a massive spin during P3 at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen’s pursuit of a fifth successive world championship looks set to suffer another blow as a tough weekend for Red Bull appeared to worsen with the Dutchman only 12th and his struggling team-mate Yuki Tsunoda 19th.
Verstappen, who finally confirmed on Thursday that he intends to stay at Red Bull for the 2026 season, already trails Piastri by 81 points in the drivers’ standings.
Kimi Antonelli took fifth to outperform his Mercedes team-mate George Russell in eighth, with the Brit surprisingly trailing Aston Martin duo Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.
Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10 as the in-form squad appeared well placed to extend a streak of five successive grand prix weekends at which they’ve scored points.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s Hungarian GP Schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Hungarian Grand Prix
Saturday August 2
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Hungarian GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: Hungarian GP Qualifying*
Sunday August 3
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Hungarian GP build-up*
2pm: The HUNGARIAN GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Hungarian GP reaction
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Budapest at the Hungarian Grand Prix for the final race before the sport’s summer break, watch live on Sky Sports F1 from Friday. For Sky customers, Sky Sports F1 is now found on channel 407. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime