Hungarian Grand Prix: Pole Position for Leclerc

      Cloudy. Dry. Air +29...26°C, Track +49...36°C

      Qatar Hungaroring – a key session of the weekend. Overtaking on the Hungarian circuit is difficult; starting position and car reliability in hot weather determine the outcome, and strategy options are limited, but pole position does not guarantee victory. Often, the winner is the driver who starts second.

      During practice, McLaren dominated. On Friday, Lando Norris set the fastest times twice, while Saturday morning Oscar Piastri was quickest.

      Traditionally, Pirelli brought a trio of soft compounds to this round – C3, C4, and C5 as Hard, Medium, and Soft. The Soft tires wore relatively slowly, warmed up quickly, and provided better grip.

      Before qualifying, clouds covered the sky; rain was nearby, but the track remained dry.

      In the first session, all drivers used Soft tires. Despite the approaching rain, they were reluctant to leave the track – the asphalt cooled quickly and became faster with each minute.

      In the first attempt, Piastri led the protocol with 1:15.554. Second, Alonso initially went faster, but Piastri improved to 1:15.211. Eliminated from the fight were Tsunoda, Gasly, Ocon, Hulkenberg, and Albon.

      The start of the second session was delayed a few minutes to clear gravel from Turn 12. Track temperature dropped ten degrees compared to qualifying start.

      It started drizzling. Drivers rushed to the track to complete a lap. Norris posted the best time – 1:14.890, half a tenth ahead of his teammate. Colapinto’s lap was invalidated for leaving the track in Turn 9.

      As soon as it started, the rain stopped, leaving the track dry. Drivers went out again with extra time to avoid traffic on the pit exit.

      Norris’s time remained the best. Berman, Hamilton, Sainz, Colapinto, and Antonelli did not advance to the final.

      Between sessions at Hungaroring, wind direction changed, immediately affecting the field. Speeds dropped.

      In the final, Piastri set the fastest time in the first attempt – 1:15.398. Stroll’s lap was invalidated for track limits, Hajar’s attempt was skipped.

      In the second attempt, Leclerc surprisingly went to the top with 1:15.372 – afterward, he said he did not expect to get pole. McLaren drivers slightly missed out – the top three were within four hundredths.

      Charles Leclerc won the Hungaroring qualifying, earning his 27th career pole and first of the season. Tomorrow, he will share the front row with Oscar Piastri; Norris and Russell will start from the second row; Alonso and Stroll from the third.

      Qualifying results

      Driver

      Team

      1st Session

      2nd Session

      3rd Session

      

      M

      Time

      Laps

      M

      Time

      Laps

      M

      Time

      Laps

      

      1. Ch. Leclerc

      Ferrari

      5

      1:15.582

      6

      6

      1:15.455

      6

      1

      1:15.372

      6

      

      2. O. Piastri

      McLaren

      1

      1:15.211

      6

      2

      1:14.941

      6

      2

      1:15.398

      6

      

      3. L. Norris

      McLaren

      4

      1:15.523

      6

      1

      1:14.890

      6

      3

      1:15.413

      6

      

      4. D. Russell

      Mercedes

      7

      1:15.627

      3

      4

      1:15.201

      6

      4

      1:15.425

      6

      

      5. F. Alonso

      Aston Martin

      2

      1:15.281

      6

      5

      1:15.395

      3

      5

      1:15.481

      6

      

      6. L. Stroll

      Aston Martin

      9

      1:15.673

      6

      3

      1:15.129

      6

      6

      1:15.498

      6

      

      7. G. Bortoleto

      Sauber

      6

      1:15.586

      6

      10

      1:15.687

      6

      7

      1:15.725

      6

      

      8. M. Verstappen

      Red Bull

      11

      1:15.736

      6

      8

      1:15.547

      6

      8

      1:15.728

      6

      

      9. L. Lawson

      Racing Bulls

      14

      1:15.849

      6

      9

      1:15.630

      6

      9

      1:15.821

      6

      

      10. A. Hajar

      Racing Bulls

      3

      1:15.516

      6

      7

      1:15.469

      6

      10

      1:15.915

      3

      

      11. O. Berman

      Haas

      12

      1:15.750

      6

      11

      1:15.694

      6

      

      12. L. Hamilton

      Ferrari

      10

      1:15.733

      6

      12

      1:15.702

      6

      

      13. C. Sainz

      Williams

      8

      1:15.652

      9

      13

      1:15.781

      6

      

      14. F. Colapinto

      Alpine

      15

      1:15.875

      6

      14

      1:16.159

      6

      

      15. K. Antonelli

      Mercedes

      13

      1:15.782

      3

      15

      1:16.386

      6

      

      16. Y. Tsunoda

      Red Bull

      16

      1:15.899

      6

      

      17. P. Gasly

      Alpine

      17

      1:15.966

      6

      

      18. E. Ocon

      Haas

      18

      1:16.023

      6

      

      19. N. Hulkenberg

      Sauber

      19

      1:16.081

      6

      

      20. A. Albon

      Williams

      20

      1:16.223

      9