Leclerc fastest in FP1 but Ferrari suffers late mechanical issue in Hungary

Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets in Free Practice 1 for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix with a 1m19.075s lap, half a second clear of Max Verstappen's Red Bull, before a mechanical failure forced him to stop in the final minutes of the session, according to the official [Formula 1](https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/fp1-leclerc-leads-verstappen-before-suffering-mechanical-problem-ahead-of-hungarian-grand-prix.32cQFweYzhr1Gr3UmYc5YU) report.

The Monegasque Ferrari driver dominated the one-hour session, showing impressive pace around the Hungaroring. Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc's Ferrari team-mate, finished third, underlining the Maranello team's competitiveness.

However, with seven minutes remaining, something broke on his Ferrari at Turn 13 and Leclerc came to a halt at the pit lane entry, ending his session early. The issue forced him to miss crucial setup running ahead of FP2 and qualifying.

The failure comes at a critical point in the Hungarian weekend, with Ferrari aiming to consolidate their championship position. The team must work quickly to identify and resolve the problem before the second practice session.

Sources

• Formula 1 Official