Imola has emerged as a leading candidate to host Formula 1’s 2026 season finale on the original Abu Dhabi date of December 6 if the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races are called off amid escalating US-Iran tensions, The Race reports. F1 is understood to want a contingency event after the Las Vegas Grand Prix on November 21, but there is now doubt over whether Portimao would be realistic in December because the circuit wants to carry out additional facility and infrastructure work.

P1) Lando Norris - 1:17.939 P2) Lewis Hamilton: +0.117 P3) Kimi Antonelli: +0.129 P4) Charles Leclerc: +0.352 P5) Oscar Piastri: +0.499 P6) George Russell: +0.602 P7) Max Verstappen: +0.717 P8) Isack Hadjar: +1.004 P9) Liam Lawson: +1.149 P10) Nico Hulkenberg: +1.221 P11) Gabriel Bortoleto: +1.399 P12) Pierre Gasly: +1.784 P13) Franco Colapinto: +2.116 P14) Arvid Lindblad: +2.134 P15) Esteban Ocon: +2.356 P16) Oliver Bearman: +2.373 P17) Fernando Alonso: +2.454 P18) Lance Stroll: +2.994 P19) Valtteri Bottas: +3.360 P20) Carlos Sainz Jnr: +3.467 P21) Alexander Albon: +3.574 P22) Sergio Perez - -


Sergio Perez's FP3 in Budapest lasted just one corner before a bizarre failure at the rear of his Cadillac.


Mercedes deputy technical director Simone Resta said a software bug in the team’s power unit system contributed to George Russell’s recent lack of top speed compared with team-mate Kimi Antonelli, with Russell also running an older power unit. Resta said: "We found a bug in our software, and we had to react to it. There was already something there at Silverstone, but the issue was more evident at Spa, which is one of the tracks with the highest lap time for power delta. We think we've finally understood it and nailed it coming into Budapest. The software is the same for all the cars, and it was there in every car, but it affected George more than Kimi."

George Russell said Mercedes have “work to do” at the Hungarian Grand Prix after a difficult Friday at the Hungaroring, where he felt Ferrari looked “a good step ahead”. Russell said: "Our single lap didn't look great, our long run looked more competitive. We've got work to do as a team. Ferrari are a good step ahead of everyone right now. For both Kimi and I the car was far from great to be honest and I think there is room to improve."

Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché says the team are “not quick enough” after a difficult opening day at the Hungaroring. Waché said: "I think it's difficult to say. I think it's clear we are not quick enough. We have to work on it and see where we will be. We just have to try to see how we can improve. We cannot perform miracles; we just have to take it step by step."

Lando Norris says any Formula 1 driver who cannot adapt their driving style to different cars is “not at a good enough level”, after George Russell questioned whether he needed to change his approach to suit the new generation of cars. Norris said: "If you're not ready to adapt to a different car, yeah, then you're not at a good enough level, simply. It's our job, it's what we've got paid millions to do. It's to drive any car you get given, whether it's a good one, a bad one, an easy one or a hard one. You have to do it."
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