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Championship leader Kimi Antonelli will be among the five drivers to sit in first practice for Friday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
During the season, each Formula 1 team must run a rookie in at least two practice sessions for both their cars and familiarization at the Hungaroring, and it not being a sprint weekend, meaning five teams took the opportunity to meet their obligations.
Antonelli, who leads Lewis Hamilton by 45 points and George Russell by 50 in the drivers’ championship, will be replaced by Mercedes reserve driver Frederic Vesti in Friday’s first practice session.
Vesti drove Antonelli’s car in first practice at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix last month, so the Italian will not miss another practice session.
But, Russell is yet to hand over his car to a rookie so will miss two practice sessions out of the 11 scheduled rounds after the summer break.
“I’m really excited to get back behind the wheel of the W17 and continue to build my experience with the car. It’s a great opportunity and one I’m looking forward to making the most of,” said Vesti, who was the 2023 Formula 2 runner-up.
Frédéric Vesti Mercedes’ reserve driver (Memler/Picture-Alliance/dpa/AP Photo)
F2 champion Fornaroli replaces Piastri in Haas rumours
Reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli will make his second Friday outing of the season when he takes on Oscar Piastre’s car at McLaren.
Fornaroli, who won the F3 and F2 titles in consecutive seasons in 2024 and 2025, drove Lando Norris’ car at Barcelona last month and has been linked with a Haas seat for next year.
Also in June, McLaren loaned the 21-year-old Italian to Haas for TPC (Previous Car Test) testing, fueling speculation that Fornaroli could join Haas full-time in 2027 to replace Esteban Ocon.
“We’re not making any decisions at this point. We’re just keeping options open. We’re not in a rush, but Leo did a great job (in testing),” Haas team chief Ayao Komatsu said.
Leonardo Fornaroli celebrates winning the 2025 F2 title
Haas’ Oliver Baermann will also miss first practice in Budapest as Rio Hirakawa gets his second outing of the season, while Paul Aron will make his third practice of 2026 when Franco Colapinto drives Alpine.
Aaron was loaned to Audi earlier this year for practice sessions in Barcelona and Austria.
Former IndyCar star Colton Hart will also be in action in the first practice as he will be behind the wheel of Valtteri Bottas’ Cadillac.
Sky Sports F1’s Hungarian GP schedule
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Take a look back at some of the year’s most dramatic moments at the Hungarian Grand Prix
Thursday 23 July
2pm: Drivers press conference
5pm: Paddock uncut
Friday 24 July
8.50am: Exercised F3
10am: F2 practice
12.00pm: Hungarian GP Practice One (Session starts at 12.30pm)*
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying
3pm: F2 Qualifying
3.45pm: Hungarian GP Practice Two (Session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 show
Saturday 25 July
9am: F3 sprint
11.15am: Hungarian GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint*
2.15pm: Hungarian GP Qualifying Build-up*
3pm: Hungarian GP Qualifying*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifications Notebook*
Sunday 26th July
7.35am: F3 Feature Race
9.05am: Porsche Supercup
10.20am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Hungarian GP Build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: Hungarian Grand Prix*
4pm: Hungarian GP Reaction: Checkered Flag*
5pm: Ted’s Notebook*
*Also on Sky Sports main events
Formula 1 heads to Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix live from this Friday with every session on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports now – no contract, cancel anytime
