Norris takes pole in Hungary
Lando Norris secured pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix with a final lap effort, surpassing Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Norris, driving an upgraded McLaren, recorded a time of 1m 17.207s in the final moments of Q3. His timing allowed him to avoid two late yellow flags that were caused by a spinning Max Verstappen and a stranded George Russell.
Hamilton was unable to improve on his last lap, finishing second ahead of Leclerc. Kimi Antonelli placed fourth for Mercedes, while Russell qualified seventh. Both Red Bull drivers, Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, experienced spins during the final segment of qualifying. Oscar Piastri finished ahead of Verstappen.
Hadjar claimed eighth position, with Arvid Lindblad of Racing Bulls and Nico Hulkenberg from Audi completing the top ten qualifiers at the Hungaroring circuit. The Hungarian Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 1500 local time on Sunday.
Qualifying sessions overview
The qualifying hour followed three hours of practice sessions that included lock-ups, wide moments, and teams learning about their upgrades. The Hungaroring circuit is known for its limited overtaking opportunities, making a strong grid position crucial for the race.
In Q1, Lando Norris was fastest, and Fernando Alonso progressed for the first time this season. Drivers such as Valtteri Bottas, Carlos Sainz, and Alex Albon were among the first to take to the track. Alonso initially set a benchmark of 1m 20.685s on soft tyres with his updated Aston Martin. This time was later surpassed by Hamilton, who achieved a 1m 18s lap on medium compound tyres.
Verstappen briefly took the lead in Q1 by a narrow margin of 0.074s, with Hadjar in third. Antonelli then moved into second place behind Verstappen. Norris ultimately secured the top spot in Q1 with a significant lead. Drivers eliminated in Q1 included Ollie Bearman, Sainz, Albon, Lance Stroll, Bottas, and Sergio Perez.
Q2 saw Norris again setting the fastest time, with Antonelli narrowly advancing. Alonso was the first driver on track in Q2, aiming to demonstrate the capabilities of Aston Martin‘s new package. Verstappen set an early standard of 1m 18.249s before Hadjar caused a yellow flag by spinning into the grass.
Hamilton then set the fastest lap of the weekend at 1m 17.931s, despite reporting that he could still find more pace. Antonelli, however, expressed concerns about tyre grip and had a lap time deleted, putting him under pressure. Hadjar improved to the top spot, and Antonelli managed to reach sixth, with Leclerc also moving into second. Norris reclaimed first place in Q2. Those knocked out in Q2 included Liam Lawson, Pierre Gasly, Franco Colapinto, Gabriel Bortoleto, Esteban Ocon, and Alonso.
Final Q3 moments and driver reactions
The start of Q3 was gradual as drivers waited for optimal track conditions. Verstappen was the first to cross the line with an initial lap of 1m 17.725s. Norris then outpaced him, but an error allowed Hamilton to take the lead by just over a tenth. After the initial runs, Hamilton was ahead of Norris, Leclerc, and Antonelli, while Russell was half a second behind in seventh.
Hamilton and Norris employed different strategies for their final attempts. Hamilton was first on track, while Norris was the last to complete his lap. Hamilton could not improve his time, which opened the door for Norris to secure pole position with his 1m 17.207s lap. Norris navigated two yellow flags during his pole-winning lap; one was for Verstappen‘s spin, and the other for Russell, who was instructed by Mercedes to stop at Turn 1.
An investigation is expected after qualifying regarding a potential impeding incident involving Hamilton and Piastri, which could lead to a grid penalty for Hamilton. Norris expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I’m very, very happy – very happy to be back on top.” He noted the tight competition and the positive impact of recent upgrades on the McLaren‘s performance. Alonso, who will start 16th, expressed optimism about Aston Martin‘s progress after progressing to Q2, citing a better understanding of the car’s weaknesses and new updates.
Source: formula1.com
Dominic Hayes is the Sports News Writer at NewsGB, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with five years of reporting experience. He started on a north-east sports desk. He holds a degree in Journalism from Teesside University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Middlesbrough, he follows pro golf and amateur boxing. “Fast and accurate is the only standard worth keeping.”
