James Calado set the early pace in the GP3 Series round at Hungaroring, topping a first free practice session that was interrupted by a red flag after fellow British driver Luciano Bacheta rolled his car.
Rio Haryanto led the way early on for Manor Racing, ahead of Tech 1 Racing's Aaro Vainio. Finn Vainio then moved ahead of the Indonesian into P1, before Nigel Melker went quickest for Mucke Motorsport.
Melker's teammate Bacheta then suffered his accident, in which he rolled over the barriers at Turn 10. He was able to get out of the car unharmed.
When the session restarted there were eight minutes remaining on the clock. Melker remained on top until the checkered flag dropped, but a flurry of last gasp quick laps pushed him down to fourth.
Lewis Williamson was first to go quickest for MW Arden, before being shaded by Tom Dillmann of Addax. Calado then put in a stunning lap that was 0.435s quicker than Dillmann's to steal top spot in his ART car.
Behind the top four, Adrian Quaife-Hobbs was fifth for Manor, ahead of Dean Smith, Vainio and Pedro Nunes. Michael Christensen and Vittorio Ghirelli rounded out the top ten. Championship leader Alexander Sims was only 26th of the 30 runners, 4.764s off the pace.
Practice 1 times:
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | James Calado | Lotus ART | 1:39.025 | 6 | |
| 2 | Tom Dillmann | Addax Team | 1:39.460 | 0.435 | 5 |
| 3 | Lewis Williamson | MW Arden | 1:39.481 | 0.456 | 4 |
| 4 | Nigel Melker | RSC Mücke Motorsport | 1:39.730 | 0.705 | 7 |
| 5 | Adrian Quaife-Hobbs | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:39.822 | 0.797 | 10 |
| 6 | Dean Smith | Addax Team | 1:39.979 | 0.954 | 5 |
| 7 | Aaro Vainio | Tech 1 Racing | 1:40.046 | 1.021 | 11 |
| 8 | Pedro Nunes | Lotus ART | 1:40.052 | 1.027 | 5 |
| 9 | Michael Christensen | RSC Mücke Motorsport | 1:40.072 | 1.047 | 9 |
| 10 | Vittorio Ghirelli | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:40.116 | 1.091 | 9 |
| 11 | Mitch Evans | MW Arden | 1:40.201 | 1.176 | 4 |
| 12 | Valtteri Bottas | Lotus ART | 1:40.262 | 1.237 | 4 |
| 13 | Rio Haryanto | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:40.269 | 1.244 | 11 |
| 14 | Zoël Amberg | Atech CRS Grand Prix | 1:40.278 | 1.253 | 10 |
| 15 | Gabby Chaves | Addax Team | 1:40.419 | 1.394 | 5 |
| 16 | Matias Laine | Marussia Manor Racing | 1:40.483 | 1.458 | 8 |
| 17 | Conor Daly | Carlin | 1:40.722 | 1.697 | 5 |
| 18 | Callum Macleod | Carlin | 1:40.826 | 1.801 | 10 |
| 19 | Nico Müller | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:40.832 | 1.807 | 8 |
| 20 | Maxim Zimin | Jenzer Motorsport | 1:40.934 | 1.909 | 7 |
| 21 | Antonio Felix da Costa | Status Grand Prix | 1:41.222 | 2.197 | 4 |
| 22 | Ivan Lukashevich | Status Grand Prix | 1:41.336 | 2.311 | 11 |
| 23 | Marlon Stockinger | Atech CRS Grand Prix | 1:41.491 | 2.466 | 9 |
| 24 | Leonardo Cordeiro | Carlin | 1:41.723 | 2.698 | 5 |
| 25 | Tamás Pál Kiss | Tech 1 Racing | 1:41.855 | 2.830 | 10 |
| 26 | Alexander Sims | Status Grand Prix | 1:43.779 | 4.754 | 4 |
| 27 | Nick Yelloly | Atech CRS Grand Prix | 1:43.856 | 4.831 | 4 |
| 28 | Simon Trummer | MW Arden | 1:44.444 | 5.419 | 4 |
| 29 | Thomas Hylkema | Tech 1 Racing | 1:44.873 | 5.848 | 8 |
| 30 | Luciano Bacheta | RSC Mücke Motorsport | 1:45.180 | 6.155 | 3 |
