Lando Norris secured pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix by 0.012 seconds, beating Lewis Hamilton in a qualifying session where small margins decided the outcome at the Hungaroring.
Norris posted a 1:17.219 on his final lap, becoming the first driver outside Mercedes to claim the top spot this season. This also marks the first time the defending World Champion has started a Grand Prix from pole in 2026, breaking a streak where only the Mercedes of George Russell or Kimi Antonelli had secured poles.
McLaren’s upgrades deliver results
Recent improvements to Norris’ car, including a new rear wing and better traction, contributed to the team’s strong showing. McLaren has steadily improved, positioning itself as a serious challenger before the summer break.
Hamilton led after his first Q3 attempt but couldn’t improve on his time. Both he and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc lost grip on their final runs, allowing Norris to take the advantage. Hamilton explained the setback: “We went out first, which I don’t think was the right call. The grip just wasn’t there on that last lap.”
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A post-qualifying penalty dropped Hamilton three places, moving him behind Leclerc. While the seven-time champion has turned six of his nine Hungarian poles into wins, starting third on Sunday presents a new challenge.
Only Norris and Antonelli improved their times in the second Q3 attempt. Antonelli held fourth place despite his progress. Max Verstappen’s session ended early after a spin in Q2 and a later water leak forced him to park the car.
Antonelli has shown skill in handling race interruptions before. In Austria, he slowed appropriately during a yellow flag caused by Verstappen’s spin, avoiding penalties and demonstrating his grasp of regulations.
Ferrari’s tire choice adds unpredictability
Ferrari’s decision to use medium tires in Q1, saving soft compounds for later, may influence the race. The strategy cost them fresh mediums for Sunday but could give them an advantage in tire durability. Norris recognized the threat: “They’ve been fast all season, so I’m expecting a tough race.”
The front row will feature Norris and Hamilton, with Leclerc and Antonelli behind. Oscar Piastri, Norris’ teammate, starts fifth ahead of Verstappen. The top ten also includes Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, and Nico Hulkenberg.
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Norris remains realistic about the challenge ahead. “I’m in the best position, but these guys get good starts. It’ll be interesting to see what tires they choose tomorrow.”
While Ferrari and Mercedes have drawn most attention, McLaren’s pole signals a change. The team has closed the gap and this result could mark a turning point if they maintain performance in the race.
For Hamilton, the Hungaroring has been a track of success. He holds records for poles and wins here, but Sunday’s race will test whether he can recover from his penalty and counter Ferrari’s strategy.
The rest of the field saw Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, and Haas’ Esteban Ocon eliminated in Q2. Oliver Bearman and Williams’ Carlos Sainz failed to advance past Q1.
