Norris Outpaces Verstappen in Hungarian GP Practice

McLaren's Lando Norris stunned the field by outpacing reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull to top the times in Friday's second free practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Norris, who trails Verstappen by 84 points in the drivers' standings, clocked a blistering time of 1:17.788 to edge out his rival by 0.243 seconds. The Briton's performance was a testament to McLaren's progress this season, as they continue to challenge the established order.

Ferrari's Carlos Sainz finished third, just one-tenth behind Norris, while Sergio Perez recovered from a slow start to take fourth for Red Bull. George Russell of Mercedes and Haas's Kevin Magnussen rounded out the top six.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, aiming for a record-extending ninth Hungarian victory, could only manage seventh, ahead of Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo, Williams' Alex Albon, and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso.

The session began with Nico Hulkenberg setting the early pace for Haas, but it was Perez who emerged as the initial frontrunner for Red Bull. Verstappen, however, encountered brake issues and struggled to match his teammate's pace.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc suffered a setback when he lost control and crashed into the barriers at Turn Four, damaging his car and the advertising hoardings. The incident brought out the red flag for 14 minutes.

Mercedes also faced challenges, with technology problems stemming from a global IT glitch affecting their pit-wall operations. Russell and Hamilton were forced to work with blank screens during the opening practice session.

Despite the setbacks, the session showcased the competitiveness of the field, with eight different teams represented in the top ten. The close margins suggest a thrilling race is in prospect for Sunday.

Tags: #HungarianGP, #F1, #McLaren, #RedBull, #LandoNorris