The Hungarian Grand Prix F1 2025 is sizzling—and not just because of the Budapest sun. McLaren’s dynamic duo, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, have turned the Hungaroring into their personal playground across all three practice sessions, laying down serious intent before the summer siesta.
But before you hand them the trophy early, remember: this is Formula 1. There’s always drama brewing beneath the asphalt.
🚀 McLaren Leads the Way, Again
McLaren has pulled off a practice triple crown, with both Norris and Piastri locking out the top two spots in every session. FP3 saw Piastri finally edge out Norris by a whisper—0.032s to be precise—proving he’s more than just the sidekick in papaya orange.
Their pace? Legit. Even when leaving time on the table (Piastri had a 0.28s cleaner lap in him), they still gapped the field by nearly half a second. At a twisty circuit like Hungaroring—where downforce is king—McLaren’s advantage is real.
🟥 Ferrari’s Fight: Leclerc Consistent, Hamilton Improving
Charles Leclerc appears to have trademarked third place. Like a well-worn pair of racing gloves, he settled into that spot across all three sessions—steady, if not stunning.
Lewis Hamilton, still adapting to life in red, showed signs of resurgence in FP3. At one point, he even split the McLarens. It didn’t last, but it signals Ferrari may still bite back when it matters.
🧊 Red Bull: Where’s the Fire?
Max Verstappen, known for frying competition on Fridays, was off the boil. Twelfth in FP3. No grip. Complaints of understeer. Even Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar had their own problems—with Hadjar spinning out in FP3. It was a weekend to forget for the Bulls, unless they can summon a Saturday miracle.
🧠 Mercedes, Aston & Sauber: The Dark Horses?
Kimi Antonelli showed some serious confidence with a fifth-fastest lap in FP3. George Russell was scrappy but lurking. The Silver Arrows might surprise.
Sauber and Aston Martin—specifically Gabriel Bortoleto and Fernando Alonso—also popped up in the top 10, showing mid-pack life is anything but boring.
📈 188BET Betting Insights: Odds & Market Movers
Feeling lucky before lights out? Here’s what 188BET is currently offering:
- 🧡 Piastri to win: 2.75
- 🧡 Norris to win: 3.10
- 🔴 Leclerc podium finish: 2.50
- 🔴 Hamilton fastest lap: 6.00
- 🔵 Verstappen comeback win: 9.50 (huge long shot, but never count him out)
Value pick? Watch for Antonelli in top-6 finish markets. Quietly consistent and offering great odds north of 4.00.
🙋♂️ FAQ: What People Also Ask
Oscar Piastri topped FP3 with a 1m14.916s, narrowly beating Lando Norris.
The Hungaroring is a tight, twisty circuit that rewards downforce, setup precision, and qualifying position.
Based on practice dominance and 188BET odds, McLaren—especially Piastri—is the favorite heading into qualifying.
Verstappen struggled with understeer and balance issues, finishing as low as P12 in FP3, with Tsunoda down in P19.
Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) have shown strong pace in practice and could upset the grid.
Top picks include Piastri for the win (2.75), Leclerc for a podium (2.50), and Antonelli for a top-6 finish (4.00+).
🏎️ Conclusion: Budapest Belongs to McLaren (For Now)
If Hungarian Grand Prix F1 2025 was decided on practice alone, McLaren would already be spraying champagne. But this is F1—we haven’t even qualified yet. Ferrari’s lurking, Mercedes might explode, and Red Bull’s got nothing to lose.
So buckle up. It’s going to be a spicy one before the summer cooldown.
