Charles Leclerc secured a stunning pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix, outperforming McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in a nail-biting qualifying session. The Ferrari driver delivered a blistering final lap to snatch the top spot, marking Ferrari's first Grand Prix pole of the year. Leclerc's time of 1m 15.372s proved unbeatable, leaving his rivals trailing by mere thousandths of a second.
Unexpected Twist in Qualifying
The qualifying session at the Hungaroring was full of surprises, with fluctuating track conditions and intense competition. George Russell impressed, securing fourth place for Mercedes, while Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll claimed P5 and P6, respectively, building on their strong practice pace.
Kick Sauber celebrated Gabriel Bortoleto's seventh-place finish, with the Brazilian outpacing reigning four-time World Champion Max Verstappen, who struggled throughout the session in his Red Bull. Liam Lawson continued his upward trajectory, securing ninth place ahead of his rookie teammate Isack Hadjar, marking a double top-10 result for the Racing Bulls squad.
Hamilton's Disappointing Performance
In stark contrast to Leclerc's success, Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult qualifying session, failing to progress beyond Q2. The seven-time World Champion expressed his frustration, stating he was "just useless" after qualifying 12th. Hamilton's struggles continue a trend from last season, where he faced qualifying challenges against George Russell. Despite his disappointment, Hamilton congratulated Leclerc on his pole position.
Key Qualifying Results
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
The Hungarian Grand Prix promises an exciting race, with Leclerc starting from pole position and Hamilton looking to recover from his disappointing qualifying performance.