Overview
- Drivers raised alarms after Friday practice when freshly resurfaced sections at Turns 1, 12 and 13 began breaking up, producing heavy lock-ups, slides and a crash by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto at Turn 12.
- The FIA inspected the track on Friday night and ordered remedial works that the Hungaroring crew carried out overnight, using patching, infrared re‑softening and rolling on the worst areas.
- Saturday running showed some improvement on patched lines but multiple drivers including Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz reported the surface remained inconsistent and 'pretty broken up' in places, making lap building unpredictable.
- Pirelli warned beforehand that the new asphalt was 'opening up' and said reduced grip and extra sliding will raise tyre temperatures and accelerate wear, which could affect strategy and increase the risk of on‑track incidents.
- The problems stem from recent resurfacing in the circuit’s development programme combined with hot, dry conditions that caused subsurface settlement, and officials are monitoring the situation to avoid a Monaco‑style interruption.