Prvý voľný tréning pred VC Maďarska sa stal korisťou Heikkiho Kovalainena, ktorý v záverečných minútach prekonal o šesť stotín sekundy Nica Rosberga. Sľubnú formu McLarenu podčiarkol tretím miestom Lewis Hamilton.
Výsledky 1. tréningu:
| 1 | Heikki Kovalainen | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:22,278 | - | 21 | |
| 2 | Nico Rosberg | Williams-Toyota | 1:22,337 | + 0,059 | 27 | |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:22,554 | + 0,276 | 20 | |
| 4 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1:22,615 | + 0,337 | 21 | |
| 5 | Kazuki Nakajima | Williams-Toyota | 1:22,619 | + 0,341 | 25 | |
| 6 | Jarno Trulli | Toyota | 1:22,705 | + 0,427 | 17 | |
| 7 | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | 1:22,796 | + 0,518 | 23 | |
| 8 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:22,855 | + 0,577 | 25 | |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | Renault | 1:23,001 | + 0,723 | 28 | |
| 10 | Jenson Button | Brawn-Mercedes | 1:23,130 | + 0,852 | 25 | |
| 11 | Robert Kubica | BMW Sauber | 1:23,146 | + 0,868 | 24 | |
| 12 | Nick Heidfeld | BMW Sauber | 1:23,154 | + 0,876 | 23 | |
| 13 | Rubens Barrichello | Brawn-Mercedes | 1:23,209 | + 0,931 | 24 | |
| 14 | Timo Glock | Toyota | 1:23,234 | + 0,956 | 30 | |
| 15 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1:23,283 | + 1,005 | 25 | |
| 16 | Giancarlo Fisichella | Force India-Mercedes | 1:23,484 | + 1,206 | 20 | |
| 17 | Nelson Piquet | Renault | 1:23,678 | + 1,400 | 22 | |
| 18 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1:23,845 | + 1,567 | 18 | |
| 19 | Sébastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1:23,998 | + 1,720 | 37 | |
| 20 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1:24,228 | + 1,950 | 42 |
