Lando Norris joked that McLaren had entered "new man’s land" as he prepared to line up on pole for the first time this season, while Lewis Hamilton remained determined to claw his way back after a qualifying penalty at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The British world champion will start from the front of the grid on Sunday – his first pole since the Las Vegas showdown last November – after edging out Hamilton with a blistering final lap in Q3.
Hamilton had originally been slated to join him on the front row in the Ferrari, but a three‑place grid drop for impeding fellow Brit Oscar Piastri shuffled the order. Charles Leclerc, who had qualified third, was therefore promoted to second place behind Norris, while McLaren’s own Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the second row after Kimi Antonelli received a three‑place penalty for exceeding the speed limit under yellow‑flag conditions. The provisional top ten looked like this: 1. Lando Norris – McLaren 2.
Charles Leclerc – Ferrari 3. Oscar Piastri – McLaren 4. Max Verstappen – Red Bull 5.
Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari 6. George Russell – Mercedes 7. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes 8. Isack Hadjar – Red Bull 9.
Arvid Lindblad – Racing Bulls 10. Nico Hulkenberg – Audi McLaren have dominated the Hungarian event for the past two years, sweeping a 1‑2 finish on each occasion, but many pundits still viewed them as outsiders for a third consecutive victory. The team’s most significant upgrade to the MCL40 arrived just as the car began to click on the twisty, high‑downforce Hungaroring, and Norris in particular has flourished under the new specifications.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of the 70‑lap race, Norris outlined what he believes will be crucial for success: "You still need good pace, solid tyre management and a clean start – otherwise you learn on the fly. You have to prepare well and the competition is fierce. Mercedes and Ferrari have shown strong race pace all year, so the bar is high." He added, "We’re in new man’s land.
It’s our first time at the front, so we’ll see what we can learn as we go and how we adapt. I expect a very tough race, but it’s not impossible." McLaren’s most recent win came when Norris triumphed in Brazil eight months ago.
Since the start of the new technical regulations, the Woking outfit has only managed four podiums in the first ten races, underscoring how valuable a pole position could be for morale and momentum. Norris, who had shown strong form at Spa‑Francorchamps last week but served a ten‑place grid penalty for exceeding his power‑unit allocation, cautioned against getting ahead of himself. "Let’s just wait and see.
It’s only qualifying – there’s a long race ahead and it will be a difficult one, so we’ll see," he said. He reflected on his Spa performance, noting, "If we go back to Spa, I felt I had enough pace to fight for a podium, maybe even a win, in terms of outright speed. I didn’t convert it, but the potential was there.
It’s nice to see that carry over to this weekend." The upgrades McLaren introduced have begun to pay dividends, Norris explained. "We brought some good upgrades, and that potential has turned into a result, which is always a very nice thing for the whole team.
It lifts motivation and the atmosphere. It’s rewarding to see work translating into points. But you can’t rely on a single good qualifying – I need a solid race on Sunday." Hamilton, meanwhile, is grappling with a third successive penalty – a three‑place drop for impeding Piastri – which now forces him to start fifth.
The Hungaroring is notorious for its limited overtaking opportunities, with few long straights and a layout that rewards tyre management and strategic ingenuity. Despite the setback, the former seven‑time champion remains optimistic that the high tyre degradation could open up alternative strategies, allowing him to climb back into the podium mix if Ferrari’s short‑run speed translates into sustained long‑run performance. In an Instagram post after the penalty was confirmed, Hamilton vented his frustration: "Sometimes you just can’t catch a break. Another weekend where I felt great in every session, then it falls apart.
Going from being so close to pole to starting P5 is extremely frustrating." He tried to stay positive, adding, "Sport is about highs and lows, and it’s in the margins. Every point counts and you have to seize every opportunity. After three penalties in three weekends, it’s hard to stay upbeat, but I won’t let setbacks erase the progress we’ve made as a team.
With the pace we have, I’m hopeful we can get something out of the race tomorrow." Hamilton praised the car’s development, noting, "The car has been feeling better and better, and we’ve been competitive all weekend. Tonight we’ll keep working hard together to give ourselves the best possible chance on Sunday.
I always enjoy this track – keep the faith and send good vibes for the race." Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who now starts one place behind teammate George Russell after his own penalty, acknowledged the challenge ahead. Antonelli leads Hamilton by 45 points and Russell by 50 in the drivers’ standings, but all three risk being caught in the midfield pack as the race unfolds. The Mercedes pair have not engaged in a direct on‑track battle since the Canadian Grand Prix, where they nearly collided on several occasions.
Their rivalry will be a subplot to watch as the lights go out in the final race before the summer break. Antonelli summed up the situation: "The race will not be easy. Overtaking is going to be difficult, and we’re starting farther back than we could have.
Our long‑run pace on Friday was good, so we’ll do everything we can to fight for the win." The weekend schedule is packed: a Formula 3 feature race at 7:35 am, Porsche Supercup at 9:05 am, an F2 feature at 10:20 am, followed by the Hungarian GP build‑up from 12:30 pm and the Grand Prix itself at 2 pm. Sky Sports will broadcast the action live on its F1 and Main Event channels, with streaming available via NOW for those without a contract.
As the teams line up on the grid, the Hungarian Grand Prix promises a blend of strategic intrigue, tyre‑wear battles and the ever‑present quest for points in a tightly contested championship. Whether Norris can convert his pole into a maiden win of the season, or Hamilton can engineer a comeback from a penalised start, the race will be a defining moment for both drivers and their teams.