George Russell admitted Mercedes' fears about Ferrari's strong pace at the Hungarian Grand Prix were realised after Friday practice, which was dominated by their rivals. Ferrari topped both sessions, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton securing a one-two in the second practice. Mercedes, meanwhile, finished fifth and 13th, a significant gap behind Ferrari.

Russell noted the bumpy track conditions and wind made for a "strange day" and that their single-lap pace "didn't look great," though long runs appeared more competitive. Ferrari expressed satisfaction with their strong start but remained cautious about maintaining the advantage through the weekend. Leclerc stated it was a "relatively strong day" but emphasized the need to keep working to improve.

Team principal Frederic Vasseur echoed this sentiment, stating, "It's good to start the weekend like this but let's see tomorrow, it will be another story." Other teams, including Red Bull and McLaren, also acknowledged Ferrari's impressive pace, with Lando Norris showing strong form for McLaren and Max Verstappen fourth for Red Bull. The Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying is set for Saturday.