\n<\/p>\n
Lance Stroll spun out with a rear suspension failure on the new Aston Martin as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc set the pace in first practice at the Hungarian Grand Prix.<\/b><\/p>\n
Aston Martin have brought a virtually new car to this race for their first major upgrade of the season, and the rear suspension is one of many revised designs on it.<\/p>\n
The left rear suspension appeared to break as he rounded Turn Three with about 20 minutes left of the session.<\/p>\n
His team-mate Fernando Alonso was sent out as soon as the session restarted and set an apparently encouraging 13th fastest time.<\/p>\n
That is a long way from where Aston Martin want to be, but it is a significant step forward from where they have been so far this season, having slumped to the back of the field.<\/p>\n
Alonso’s time was 2.475 seconds from Leclerc’s – but Aston Martin have been about four seconds off the pace in recent races.<\/p>\n
Leclerc was 0.484secs ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton third ahead of the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar.<\/p>\n
Leclerc’s session ended early when his car suffered a failure and he ground to a halt in the pit lane before reaching the Ferrari garage.<\/p>\n
Mercedes’ George Russell was only fifth fastest, ahead of Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto.<\/p>\n
Mercedes reserve Frederik Vesti, driving the car of championship leader Kimi Antonelli, was seventh.<\/p>\n
Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg and the Racing Bulls of Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson completed the top 10.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n