LIVE: Hungarian Grand Prix FP1

© XPB 

Follow F1i's live coverage of all the action from the first free practice session for the 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Formula One returns to Budapest for the 31st time, with the Hungaroring having hosted the sport uninterruptedly since 1986.

The 11th race weekend of the season gets underway at 10:00 local time at a venue that has grown more and more popular over the years.

Biggest news of the weekend so far has been F1 points leader Nico Rosberg signing a new contract with Mercedes through 2018. The German is thus set to partner team-mate and title rival Lewis Hamilton for at least another two seasons beyond the current campaign.

The Briton enters the Budapest weekend on the back of two consecutive wins in Austria and Silverstone. After a rough start to his title defence, the reigning world champion appears to be on a roll and will look to to make it a record five wins in Hungary. Hamilton is currently tied with Michael Schumacher as the most successful driver in Budapest with four successes.

Following a disappointing British Grand Prix, Ferrari has come under increasing pressure to perform from president Sergio Marchionne. Team boss Maurizio Arrivabene also said the Italian squad "cannot fail" in Budapest, with the Scuderia still looking for its first win this season.

Ferrari will have to keep an eye on a resurgent Red Bull team, which has been spurred forward by Max Verstappen’s back-to-back podium finishes. The 18-year-old was fourth for Toro Rosso last year in Hungary and is hungry for more this time around.

Team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who has been somewhat outshone across recent events, will be keen to steal Verstappen’s thunder back and recapture the sort of form that almost made him a winner in Spain and Monaco earlier this year.

This year’s Hungarian GP FP1 starts here with FP1 at 10am local time (9am BST). We'll be bringing you all the news and information from trackside as it happens on F1i's live page.

Romain Grosjean column: Safety car starts and summer breaks

Chris Medland's 2016 Hungarian Grand Prix preview

Technical snapshot - Silverstone

TECHNICAL: Under the skin of the Mercedes W07

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter