Hungarian Grand Prix free practice penalties issued, Red Bull fined and Sainz cleared

During the first free‑practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, FIA stewards investigated Spanish driver Carlos Sainz after he overtook car 61, braked heavily at turn 9 and was re‑overtaken at turn 10. After reviewing video, telemetry and team radio, the stewards concluded that Sainz did not breach Article 2 of Chapter IV of the International Sporting Code and cleared him of irregular driving.

In the same session Red Bull Racing received a €400 fine because its French‑Algerian driver Isack Hadjar was caught travelling at 83.8 km/h in the pit lane, above the 80 km/h limit. The sanction was purely monetary; Hadjar still recorded the fourth‑best time of the practice. Max Verstappen was also summoned after a separate incident involving Sainz, but no further penalties were imposed.