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 grid‑penalty at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The British world champion will start the Sunday race from the front of the grid for the first time since his Las Vegas pole in November, having edged out Hamilton on the final lap of Q3.
Hamilton, who was originally slated to start alongside him on the front row in a Ferrari, was handed a three‑place drop for impeding fellow Brit Oscar Piastri during qualifying. As a result, third‑placed Charles Leclerc was promoted to the second Ferrari slot, and McLaren’s own Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen filled the remainder of the second row after Kimi Antonelli served a three‑place sanction for exceeding speed limits 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 seasons, sweeping a 1‑2 finish on each occasion, yet many pundits still viewed them as outsiders for a third consecutive victory. The team’s most significant upgrade to the MCL‑40, introduced several races ago, appears to have clicked on the twisty, high‑downforce Hungaroring layout, with Norris in particular flourishing. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 ahead of the 70‑lap showdown, Norris outlined what he believes will be essential for success: "You still need strong pace, solid tyre management and a good start – otherwise you learn on the fly. You have to prepare well because the competition is fierce.
Mercedes and Ferrari have shown excellent race pace all year and they’ll be tough opponents." 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 can adapt.
I expect a very tough race, but it’s not impossible." McLaren’s last victory came eight months earlier when Norris won in Brazil, and the Woking outfit has managed only four podiums in the first ten races of the current hybrid era. Despite a strong showing at Spa‑Francorchamps last weekend, Norris carried a ten‑place grid drop for exceeding his power‑unit component allowance. He remained cautious, noting, "Let’s just wait and see. Qualifying is only the start – it’s a long race ahead and it will be challenging, so we’ll see how it goes." Reflecting on his Spa performance, Norris said, "If we look back to Spa, I felt I had enough pace to fight for a podium, maybe even a win, based on sheer speed.
I didn’t convert it, but the potential was there. It’s encouraging to see that potential translate into a result this weekend." He praised the upgrades his team introduced, stating, "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 morale and the atmosphere. It’s rewarding to see work paying off. So I’m very pleased for everyone, but you can’t rely on a single strong qualifying – I need a solid race on Sunday." For Hamilton, the penalty marks the third consecutive weekend he has been hit with a sanction, turning his weekend from a potential pole‑position run into a start from fifth. In a lengthy Instagram post, the seven‑time world champion expressed his frustration: "Sometimes you just can’t catch a break.
I felt great throughout the sessions, then it falls apart. Going from being so close to pole to starting P5 is extremely frustrating." He continued, "I always try to stay positive – sport is about highs and lows, and it’s often down to the margins.
Every point matters and you have to seize every opportunity. After three penalties in three weeks, staying positive is tough, 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 salvage something from the race tomorrow." Hamilton added, "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 love this track, so keep the faith and send good vibes for the race." Meanwhile, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who will start one place behind his teammate George Russell after his own penalty, acknowledged the challenges ahead. He noted that both he and Russell sit 45 and 50 points behind Hamilton in the drivers’ standings, respectively, and that the Hungaroring’s tight layout means the pack will likely bunch up into Turn One.
Antonelli said, "The race will not be easy. Overtaking is 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 Mercedes pair have not engaged in a direct on‑track battle since the Canadian Grand Prix, where they nearly collided on several occasions. Their intra‑team dynamics will be a storyline to watch as they vie for positions in the final race before the summer break.
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 Hungarian Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30 pm, the race itself at 2:00 pm, and post‑race analysis later in the afternoon. All sessions will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming available via NOW for those without a contract.
In summary, Norris’s pole marks a milestone for McLaren and places the British driver in uncharted territory, while Hamilton’s penalty adds a layer of intrigue to his title defence. Both drivers, along with their respective teams, will need to balance tyre management, strategic acumen and outright speed to navigate the notoriously difficult overtaking conditions at the Hungaroring and emerge with valuable points.