Sainz, 27, was 0.130 seconds faster than the world champion, whose title rival Charles Leclerc was third in a second Ferrari.
Sainz, 27, was 0.130 seconds faster than the world champion, whose title rival Charles Leclerc was third in a second Ferrari.
Carlos Sainz topped in time for Ferrari ahead of Red Bull’s series leader Max Verstappen In early Friday practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix later this week.
The 27-year-old Spaniard clocked a best lap of one minute and 18.750 seconds, finishing third from McLaren’s Lando Norris, with Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari by 0.130 seconds to overtake the world champion.
George Russell was fifth for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s Sergio Perez, ahead of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s Daniel Ricciardo in the second Mercedes.
Esteban Ocon was ninth ahead of his Alpine teammate Fernando Alonso, who was celebrating his 41st birthday.
The two Aston Martins of retirement-tied Sebastian Vettel and Lance Stroll, driving an updated car featuring a new-looking rear wing, finished 11th and 12th.
In hot and dry conditions in the cramped and windy Hungaroring 20 kilometers north of the capital, the usual suspects first led to a duel between Sainz and Verstappen in the opening minutes.
Leclerc took the initiative after 12 minutes with a lap in 1:20.225, boosting his morale as he sought to quell any hangover from last Sunday’s accidental exit from the French Grand Prix.
Sainz struck back five minutes later, before a Ferrari teammate responded with a sub 1:20 lap first, a feat achieved immediately by Verstappen as the top trio set the pace.
Leclerc and Sainz then traded laps, with Verstappen staying close in time until they were split by Russell as teams started using softer tyres. This briefly provided a more tight rivalry with Verstappen before Sainz resumed in P1.
Aston Martin, after introducing a new ‘armchair’ rear wing, took their time to realize their potential with both four-time champions Vettel and Stroll taking over the middle order position.
Vettel’s soon-to-be-vacant seat paddock was a major subject of speculation and it was not pacified by the 35-year-old German driver’s confession that he had tipped compatriot and disciple Mick Schumacher to succeed him.
He said, ‘I have my own opinion. “I think about Mick a lot. Of course, I’m not being completely objective, because I’m very close to him, but I think he’s a great driver and a great learner. But, that’s not my decision.” “