Oscar Piastri's Friday at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix was an uphill battle from the start. Forced to sit out Free Practice 1 to fulfill McLaren's mandatory rookie running requirements, the Australian had just one hour to get up to speed on a highly inconsistent, freshly resurfaced track.
Despite finishing FP2 down in eighth place—nearly 1.4 seconds off the leading pace set by Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton—Piastri remains highly optimistic about McLaren's potential this weekend.
Jumping into the MCL40 for FP2, Piastri inherited a tricky situation from reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, who had driven the car during the opening hour.
Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; McLaren driver Oscar Piastri (81) reacts after qualifying fifth for the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Hungaroring proved incredibly difficult to tame, characterized by severe gusts of wind and a bizarrely inconsistent track surface where new patches of tarmac were already wearing away. Adding to the frustration, Piastri's initial qualifying simulation was completely derailed when Alpine's Franco Colapinto spun backwards into the final corner barriers, triggering a red flag.
#oscar #grand #mandatory
Despite finishing FP2 down in eighth place—nearly 1.4 seconds off the leading pace set by Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton—Piastri remains highly optimistic about McLaren's potential this weekend.
Jumping into the MCL40 for FP2, Piastri inherited a tricky situation from reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, who had driven the car during the opening hour.
Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; McLaren driver Oscar Piastri (81) reacts after qualifying fifth for the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The Hungaroring proved incredibly difficult to tame, characterized by severe gusts of wind and a bizarrely inconsistent track surface where new patches of tarmac were already wearing away. Adding to the frustration, Piastri's initial qualifying simulation was completely derailed when Alpine's Franco Colapinto spun backwards into the final corner barriers, triggering a red flag.
#oscar #grand #mandatory
3 days ago
