Everything we learned on day one at F1's 2026 Hungarian GP

Key Points:

• George Russell is confident that the deployment issues affecting his performance at Spa and Silverstone have been resolved, allowing him to focus more naturally on driving rather than compensating for power unit problems.
• Charles Leclerc agreed with Oscar Piastri's criticism of their collision at the Belgian Grand Prix, acknowledging that his racing approach was too risky and "sketchy," even though he was not penalized.
• Cadillac, despite a recent performance advantage over Aston Martin, expressed concern that a significant upgrade from Aston Martin could jeopardize their position, with differing views within Cadillac on the success of their development this year.
• Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto defended the increasing use of AI and machine learning in managing power deployment in 2026 F1 cars, arguing that embracing advanced technology aligns with the sport's purpose and should not be criticized.
• Mercedes introduced a new all-wheel-drive AMG GT as the official safety car for the Hungarian Grand Prix, featuring advanced active suspension and a powerful 612hp engine, marking the 14th variant since 1996.