Everything we learned on day one at F1's 2026 Hungarian GP - The Race

What the report says

The Race reported from Thursday media day at the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix that, despite Formula 1 approaching its summer break, teams still had several technical and competitive issues unresolved. At Mercedes, George Russell said recent power deployment problems that affected him at Silverstone and Spa had been addressed, allowing him to focus on driving rather than adapting his throttle and gear use around misleading data.

The report also revisited incidents and rivalries from the previous Belgian Grand Prix. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc acknowledged that Oscar Piastri had a point in questioning why their contact went unpunished, saying the move was beyond the way he wants to race regularly. At Racing Bulls, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson downplayed tensions after close wheel-to-wheel racing at Spa, with both indicating their relationship remains respectful despite pressure to beat each other.

On the development front, Cadillac was wary of Aston Martin’s new package. Valtteri Bottas said a major Aston Martin improvement could push Cadillac back, while the American team’s own Hungary update focused on brakes after reliability concerns at previous high-braking circuits. The Race also noted differing views inside Cadillac, with Sergio Perez suggesting development had not gone far enough and Bottas giving a more positive assessment compared with leading teams.

The broader 2026 rules remained a talking point, particularly software and machine-learning energy deployment. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto defended the use of advanced systems as part of F1’s role in developing future technology, contrasting with criticism from Perez. Separately, Mercedes introduced a new all-wheel-drive AMG GT safety car for Hungary, marking another update in its long-running F1 safety car programme.