Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton was notably absent from a meeting between drivers and FIA race stewards ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The gathering was arranged to discuss potential changes to the Drivers’ Standards Guidelines ahead of the 2027 season.
Meanwhile, on track, Lando Norris caused something of a surprise by going fastest for McLaren in the final practice session before qualifying at the Hungaroring.
Norris edged out the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton and the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli in what was a closely contested FP3 session.
It was a different story earlier in the weekend, with Charles Leclerc having gone fastest in FP1 ahead of Max Verstappen and Hamilton.
Hamilton then dominated FP2 alongside Ferrari, with the seven-time champion setting the quickest time and finishing nearly half a second quicker than McLaren’s Lando Norris.
Ferrari’s strong showing throughout practice underlines their status as genuine contenders heading into qualifying and Sunday’s race.
Away from the action on track, Fernando Alonso brought his young son to the Hungaroring this weekend, with the Spaniard having become a father earlier this year when his partner Melissa Jimenez gave birth to a baby boy.
Four-time champion Max Verstappen also faced scrutiny from the FIA after an incident during FP1, with an official verdict handed down following an angry exchange with a rival driver.
Verstappen arrives in Hungary still searching for his first grand prix victory of the season, after his Red Bull team showed improved form at the Belgian Grand Prix.
Aston Martin brought a significant package of sixteen upgrades to the Hungaroring, with the arrival of Adrian Newey’s long-awaited developments generating considerable excitement among the team’s supporters.
The team had delayed bringing any upgrades to their AMR26 for the entire season due to cost considerations linked to F1’s strict financial regulations, with the results having been difficult to ignore.
Adding to the news surrounding the sport, the Malaysian Grand Prix has been tipped to make a sensational return to the F1 calendar this year in a late reshuffle, with Malaysia having hosted a race every year between 1999 and 2017 at the iconic Sepang Circuit.