Lando Norris injected fresh optimism into McLaren's campaign at the Hungarian Grand Prix by delivering a standout performance in the final practice session, which saw him outpace both the Friday session leader Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes' championship contender Kimi Antonelli. The British driver’s display in the upgraded McLaren suggested that the team could finally contend for a pole position this season. While Ferrari appeared to be the clear favourite heading into Saturday’s qualifying after a dominant first day of practice, the Italian squad could not maintain its grip on the top of the leaderboard when the session entered its closing stages.
The reigning world champions, Hamilton and Antonelli, briefly reclaimed the lead, but Norris’s second flying lap proved decisive. After posting a respectable time of 1:18.056 on his opening soft‑tyre run, the McLaren driver pushed even harder on his next attempt, clocking a blistering 1:17.939. This effort sliced 0.117 seconds off Antonelli’s best time and nudged Norris to the summit of the timesheet. Antonelli, who had struggled through a particularly challenging Friday, rebounded strongly and secured third place, just 0.129 seconds shy of Norris’s mark.
His resurgence added another layer of intrigue to the midfield battle, especially as his teammate George Russell continued to face difficulties, ultimately finishing sixth—approximately 0.6 seconds slower than Norris’s impressive lap. The second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc was positioned fourth, trailing the leading McLaren by roughly 0.3 seconds. Oscar Piastri, the other McLaren driver, occupied fifth place, a tenth of a second further back. The Red Bull duo, however, seemed out of sorts; Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar could only manage seventh and eighth fastest times respectively, indicating that the Hungaroring might be delivering a more level playing field than usual.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle summed up the atmosphere, noting, "It’s always a close call here, and today is no exception. This bodes incredibly well for the qualifying later this afternoon." His comment underscored the excitement building among fans and pundits alike.
Beyond the front‑row contenders, the midfield fight appeared to be shaping around Racing Bulls and Audi. Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls claimed ninth place, while Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg settled into tenth. Arvid Lindblad, another Racing Bulls driver, managed only a thirteenth‑fastest time after completing just six laps; a power‑unit change in the garage limited his track time to the final minutes of the session.
Cadillac encountered its own set of problems when a brake fire forced Sergio Perez to abort his lap at Turn One, sending him into the runoff area. The incident prevented the Mexican driver from rejoining the remainder of the practice, leaving the team with a compromised data set. Lance Stroll, driving the heavily upgraded Aston Martin, finally got back on track after missing the second Friday session due to a rear‑suspension failure that had spun him off during opening practice. The upgraded AMR26, which has spent much of the season languishing at the back of the grid, showed promising signs by finishing ahead of both Williams and Cadillac.
Stroll recorded 18th place, while teammate Fernando Alonso secured 17th, with the pair’s best lap sitting just 2.4 seconds off the overall pace. The schedule for the weekend is packed with action.
On Saturday, July 25, the program kicks off at 1:10 pm with the F2 Sprint, followed by the Hungarian GP qualifying build‑up at 2:15 pm, the qualifying itself at 3:00 pm, and Ted’s Qualifying Notebook at 5:00 pm. Sunday, July 26, features a full day of racing, starting with the F3 Feature Race at 7:35 am, the Porsche Supercup at 9:05 am, the F2 Feature Race at 10:20 am, and the Hungarian GP build‑up at 12:30 pm. The Grand Prix proper begins at 2:00 pm, with post‑race analysis, the chequered flag ceremony, and Ted’s Notebook rounding out the afternoon. All sessions are being broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through the NOW platform.
Viewers can enjoy the coverage without a long‑term contract and cancel at any time, ensuring flexible access to every on‑track moment. In summary, Norris’s performance in the final practice session not only highlighted the potential of McLaren’s upgraded package but also injected a fresh sense of competition into a weekend that promises to be fiercely contested. With the qualifying line‑up now looking tighter than ever, fans can anticipate an exhilarating showdown for pole position, and possibly a surprise podium, as the Hungarian Grand Prix unfolds.