Leclerc tops the first day of testing in Hungary

Charles Leclerc ended the first day of in-season testing from Hungary on top with a lap time of 1:17.746. The time was very impressively set on the soft compound, while the competitors around him set their quickest times on the ultra soft.

Second was Stoffel Vandoorne who was only marginally behind the Monegasque driver. The day wasn't trouble-free for McLaren though, as the MCL32 stopped out on track with only minutes left in the morning session. As the afternoon session began there were no signs of Vandoorne and he would not emerge until 2 hours after the green flag had been waved.

Third was Valtteri Bottas who was testing for Pirelli. The Finn set an enormous 155 laps, running 2018 prototype tyres. Following the two-time race winner was the other Mercedes of George Russell, who also passed the 100 lap mark.

Lance Stroll followed in fifth for Williams, with the Canadian being the third driver to set over 100 laps. Force India's Nikita Mazepin was sixth. The Russian took the car out in the morning session before handing duties over to Lucas Auer who drove in the afternoon. Auer himself ended the day in ninth.

Formula 2 racers Nicholas Latifi and Sean Galael were seventh and eighth when the chequered flag fell. American Santino Ferrucci was tenth with Max Verstappen eleventh. The Red Bull suffered major engine problems at the start of the day and was catching up as the day wore on. Rounding out the drivers was Gustav Malja in the Sauber, who clocked in a healthy 108 laps.

Fergal Walsh