Lando Norris joked that McLaren have 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 the race from the front of the grid on Sunday – his first pole since the Las Vegas showdown last November – after he edged out Hamilton on the final lap of 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 reshuffled the order.
Charles Leclerc, who had posted the third‑fastest time, was promoted to the second slot in the other Ferrari. McLaren’s own Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen filled the second row, while Kimi Antonelli received a three‑place penalty for speeding under yellow flags, moving him further down the order. The provisional top ten stood as follows: 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 seasons, sweeping a 1‑2 finish on both occasions. This year they arrived as outsiders for a potential third consecutive victory, but a series of upgrades to the MCL‑40 have coincided with a resurgence in form on the twisty, high‑downforce circuit.
Norris, in particular, has thrived on the Hungaroring’s demanding layout. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of the 70‑lap race, Norris outlined the ingredients he believes are essential for success: "You need strong pace, good tyre management and a clean start – otherwise you learn on the fly. You also have to prepare thoroughly because the competition is fierce.
Mercedes and Ferrari have shown very impressive race pace all year." 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 the race unfolds and how we adapt. I expect a very tough battle, but it’s not impossible." McLaren’s last victory came eight months earlier when Norris won in Brazil, and the team have only managed four podiums in the first ten races of the current hybrid era. Norris, who had been one of the quickest drivers at Spa‑Francorchamps last week, served a ten‑place grid penalty for exceeding his power‑unit allocation, yet he remains cautious about the upcoming sprint.
"Let’s just wait and see. Qualifying is only the start – the race is long and will be challenging, so we’ll find out then," he said.
"Back at Spa I felt I had enough pace to fight for a podium, maybe even a win. I didn’t get the result, but the potential was there. It’s encouraging to see that carry over to this weekend." Norris praised the recent upgrades to the McLaren, noting that the improvements have translated into tangible results: "We brought some good upgrades, and that potential has turned into a result, which is fantastic for the whole team.
It lifts morale and shows the work we’re putting in is paying off. But you can’t rely on a single strong qualifying – we need a solid race on Sunday." Hamilton, for his part, has faced a third penalty in as many weekends, a three‑place drop for impeding Piastri that pushes him down to fifth on the grid. The Hungaroring is notorious for its limited overtaking opportunities, with few long straights and a high‑wear tyre surface that often forces teams into divergent strategies.
If Ferrari can convert their short‑run speed into long‑run durability, Hamilton could still target a podium finish. After the stewards confirmed his sanction, Hamilton posted a lengthy Instagram note expressing his frustration: "Sometimes you just can’t catch a break.
I felt great all weekend, then it falls apart. Going from almost pole to P5 is extremely frustrating. I always try to stay positive – sport is about highs and lows, and the margins matter. Every point counts and you have to seize every chance.
After three penalties in three weekends, staying positive is hard, but I won’t let setbacks erase the progress we’ve made as a team. The car feels better and better, and we’ve been competitive all weekend. Tonight we’ll keep working hard to give ourselves the best chance on Sunday. I love this track, so keep the faith and send good vibes." Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who now starts just behind teammate George Russell, acknowledged the challenge ahead: "The race won’t be easy.
Overtaking will be tough and we’re starting further 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 championship battle remains tight. Antonelli trails Hamilton by 45 points and Russell by 50 in the drivers’ standings, but all three risk being caught in the midfield pack as they navigate the first turn on the opening lap. The weekend’s 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 Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30 pm and the race itself at 2:00 pm, with post‑race analysis and commentary later in the afternoon.
The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, and can be streamed via NOW without a contract, cancelable at any time. As the lights prepare to go out on Sunday, the Hungarian Grand Prix promises a thrilling mix of strategy, tyre management and driver skill, with Norris aiming to convert his maiden pole into a historic win, Hamilton seeking redemption after a string of penalties, and the rest of the field ready to capitalize on any opportunity the demanding circuit may present.