Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc delivered a stunning performance to snatch pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, outpacing the dominant McLaren duo and surprising many ahead of Sunday’s race. While McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, both championship contenders, were favored to fight for pole, they had to settle for second and third places respectively.
The margin was razor-thin: Leclerc edged out Piastri by just 0.026 seconds, with Norris a mere 0.015 seconds behind the Australian. Mercedes' George Russell completed the top four starting positions.
McLaren had dictated the pace throughout Friday’s sessions, with Norris topping both runs and Piastri leading the final practice before qualifying. However, Leclerc produced an outstanding lap when it mattered most, delivering Ferrari’s first pole position this season.
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Reflecting on his unexpected achievement, Leclerc admitted, “Today, I don’t understand anything about Formula One. Qualifying was extremely difficult from start to finish. Getting through Q2 and Q3 was a challenge, and conditions changed during the session. I focused on a clean lap targeting third, but to end up with pole — that’s incredible. It’s probably the most surprising pole I’ve ever had.”
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc’s teammate and an eight-time winner at the Hungarian GP, faced another tough outing. He was eliminated in Q2, managing only 12th on the grid, continuing a rare dry spell that now extends to 14 races without a podium finish this season. Hamilton has been outqualified by Leclerc in 10 of the 14 events so far.
After being knocked out early again, Hamilton left his car holding his gloves to shield himself from camera flashes, signaling a frustrating day for the seven-time world champion.
Mercedes’ young driver Kimi Antonelli was also eliminated in Q2, qualifying 15th. Aston Martin showed signs of improvement compared to recent struggles, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll advancing to the final qualifying segment and securing fifth and sixth places respectively. Alonso, who recently celebrated his 44th birthday, has demonstrated resilience despite a challenging season.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen qualified eighth, while Alex Albon, despite strong recent performances, will start from the back of the grid after a disappointing 20th place in qualifying. Yuki Tsunoda, eliminated in Q1 for the fifth time this year, will start 16th.
With Leclerc starting upfront and McLaren battles shaping the front rows, the Hungarian GP promises a thrilling race on Sunday.