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
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