Friday’s practice sessions were excellent for McLaren’s duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, with the pair reacting positively ahead of qualifying.
The McLaren duo dominated FP1 and FP2 at the Hungarian GP, with a 1-2 in both sessions. Piastri, who won in Hungary last year, finished P2 behind last year’s polesitter Norris in both sessions. Friday’s closely-contested sessions are the latest instalment in Piastri and Norris’ Drivers’ Championship battle, with the pair only separated by 16 points.
Speaking to the media, both drivers were happy with their work in FP1 and FP2, and expressed their satisfaction with the McLaren car at the Hungaroring.
Norris on FP1 and FP2
Norris took a slender lead of nearly two hundredths to Piastri in FP1, but extended his gap to nearly three tenths in FP2. All-in-all, Norris is content with his work through Friday’s sessions, despite some minor issues.
“I mean the car since the first lap felt pretty good, like all my laps have been decent, I think FP2 was a little bit more messy, just in low fuel, high fuel, a few more mistakes. But all part of it, whole part of practise and trying to find the limits in different areas, so yeah good understandings, I think I know what I want from the car, but yeah might be a bit harder trying to get it.”
When asked about his thoughts on how his long runs went during FP2, Norris admitted: “I spent more time trying to race people than do race laps.”
Norris has ‘more chance’ of pole this year
Norris grabbed pole at the Hungaroring last year by just two hundredths to Piastri. With the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc and even the Aston Martin of Lance Stroll putting in competitive laps in FP2, Norris acknowledges that pole is an expectation, but not a guarantee.
“I have a better car than I had last year, more chance, but some tough competition.”
Piastri excited for weekend ahead
Having ran 60 laps over the course of Friday’s sessions, Piastri will have collected plenty of data and insight for his weekend. Like Norris, Piastri found himself feeling that FP2 wasn’t his best performance. However, the Australian is happy with his performance, and looks forward to an exciting weekend in Hungary.
“We’ve had to change a few things and try and make the car a bit better, but the performance has been very good. So all in all pretty happy. Some things to tidy up, it wasn’t the smoothest of FP2s, but I think the underlying pace is good. So, excited for the rest of the weekend.”
Piastri struggled with unexpected car behaviour in FP1
The Hungaroring has often been compared to a go-kart track by drivers and pundits alike. Friday’s surprisingly high-grip environment would have added to that effect, and caused some unexpected behaviour for Piastri’s car.
“I think the grip level was was very high today, so the car’s been quick all day. Just in FP1 behaved a bit unexpectedly. So, we changed a few things and made it a lot better for FP2. But, now just fine-tuning the normal things. So, I think just the grip level was a lot higher than than we expected especially compared to last year.”
Piastri expecting the Hungarian GP to suit McLaren
2024’s 1-2 will be on McLaren’s mind as they head into the Hungarian GP weekend, especially after the strong showing in FP1 and FP2. Piastri knows that the Hungaroring suits the strengths of the MCL39, and is happy with the pace that McLaren are displaying.
“I think this is a track that it should suit us quite well and it has done previously. But, Ferrari looked quick in FP1. I’ve not seen the the long runs from FP2, but I think we’re in a good place.”