Lando Norris secured pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit. The McLaren driver recorded a fastest lap of 1:17.207 during Saturday’s qualifying session. This marks his first pole position of the current 2026 Formula 1 season.
Norris edged out Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by a mere 0.012 seconds. Hamilton posted a 1:17.219, placing him second on the grid. Charles Leclerc, Hamilton’s teammate at Ferrari, qualified third with a time of 1:17.445.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli demonstrated strong pace, securing fourth position with a 1:17.479. Oscar Piastri, in the second McLaren, completed the top five, clocking a 1:17.684.
Reigning champion Max Verstappen encountered issues during his final Q3 attempt. The Red Bull driver spun at Turn 12, bringing out a yellow flag and compromising his lap.
Verstappen ultimately qualified sixth with a time of 1:17.725. He attributed his spin to pushing the limits on cold tyres. This result is an unusual starting position for the Red Bull driver.
George Russell also faced difficulties in Q3. His Mercedes suffered a power unit issue, forcing him to stop on track and triggering another yellow flag. Russell qualified seventh.
The Mercedes team is investigating a ‘calibration’ issue with Russell’s power unit, which has affected his recent performances. Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull secured eighth place.
Arvid Lindblad placed his Racing Bulls ninth in qualifying. Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top ten for Audi.
McLaren brought a significant MCL40 upgrade package to the Hungarian Grand Prix. This included a revised floor and other aerodynamic changes.
The upgrades targeted improved downforce and balance in slow and medium-speed corners. McLaren CEO Zak Brown praised the team’s consistent progress throughout the 2026 season.
Norris expressed satisfaction with the car’s balance and grip during the session. Lewis Hamilton acknowledged Norris’s strong lap but conveyed confidence in Ferrari’s race pace for Sunday.
‘The car felt competitive, and the margin was minimal,’ Hamilton stated.
Hamilton will aim for his ninth Hungarian Grand Prix victory on Sunday. Kimi Antonelli’s fourth-place qualification underscores his promising rookie season with Mercedes.
Antonelli is the current championship leader and has won six Grands Prix this season. He was also under investigation for a yellow flag infringement in Q3.
Earlier in the session, Q1 saw early exits for Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez. Q2 eliminated Daniel Ricciardo and Esteban Ocon from further competition.
Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, made it through to Q2. This was aided by a significant upgrade package introduced by his team.
