Lando Norris laughed that McLaren had entered "new man's land" as he prepared to line up at the very front of a Grand Prix grid for the first time this season. The British driver, who clinched pole for the Hungarian Grand Prix, was quick to point out that the team was stepping into unfamiliar territory, while Lewis Hamilton tried to stay optimistic about clawing back from a three‑place grid drop that would see him start from fifth. Norris secured pole position on Sunday – his first pole since the Las Vegas showdown last November – by posting the fastest time in the final lap of Q3. He edged out Hamilton, who had been on course to start alongside him on the front row in a Ferrari, but was penalised for impeding fellow Brit Oscar Piastri during the qualifying session.
The stewards handed Hamilton a three‑place grid penalty, which dropped him from second to fifth on the starting grid. Because of Hamilton's sanction, third‑fastest Charles Leclerc was promoted to the second slot on the front row, giving Ferrari a double presence at the very start. McLaren’s own Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen were slotted onto the second row, while Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli served a three‑place penalty for speeding under yellow flags, moving him further down the order. The provisional grid looked 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 had dominated the Hungarian Grand Prix in the previous two seasons, sweeping a one‑two finish on both occasions. Yet this year they entered the weekend as outsiders for a third consecutive victory, largely because the team’s development pace had not kept up with the rapid evolution of the new regulations. The MCL40 received its most significant upgrade in several races just as the Hungaroring’s demanding layout began to suit the car’s characteristics, and Norris in particular appeared to thrive on the twisty circuit.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 before the race, Norris outlined what he believed were the essential ingredients for success on Sunday’s 70‑lap sprint: "You need raw pace, you need to manage the tyres well, and you need a clean start – otherwise you learn the hard way on the track. You also have to prepare thoroughly because the competition is fierce. Mercedes and Ferrari have shown very strong race pace all season, so we know the bar is high." He added a note of humility and curiosity about the new experience: "We’re in new man's land. It’s the first time we’ve been at the front, so we’ll see what we can learn as the race unfolds and how we adapt.
I expect a very tough race, but it’s not impossible." McLaren’s most recent victory came eight months earlier when Norris won in Brazil, and the team has only managed four podiums in the first ten races of the current regulatory era. Despite that modest record, the Woking outfit believes the upgrades they introduced – a revised floor, a more efficient rear diffuser and a refined power‑unit map – have translated into tangible performance gains. Norris, who had shown strong pace at Spa‑Francorchamps a week earlier but incurred a ten‑place grid drop for exceeding his power‑unit allocation, remained cautious about over‑promising. "Let’s just wait and see.
Qualifying is only the start; we have a long race ahead and it will be challenging. If we can replicate the speed we felt at Spa, we could fight for a podium and maybe even a win," he said. "It’s encouraging to see that potential carry over to this weekend." He praised the team’s engineering work: "We brought some good upgrades, and seeing those translate into a result is fantastic for morale.
It shows the hard work is paying off. But you can’t rely on a single good qualifying – we need a solid race performance on Sunday." For Hamilton, the penalty was the third in as many weekends, a string of setbacks that have tested his mental resilience.
The Hungaroring is notoriously difficult to overtake on because of its short straights and tight corners, but it also tends to produce high tyre degradation, which can open up strategic alternatives. Hamilton’s team hopes that Ferrari’s strong short‑run speed will evolve into sustained long‑run performance, giving the seven‑time world champion a chance to climb back onto the podium despite starting from fifth. After the penalty was confirmed, Hamilton posted a reflective note on Instagram: "Sometimes you just can’t catch a break.
I’ve felt great all weekend, then it all falls apart. Going from near‑pole to P5 is extremely frustrating. I try to stay positive – sport is about highs and lows, and it’s all in the margins.
Every point matters and you have to seize every opportunity. After three penalties in three weeks, staying positive is hard, but I won’t let setbacks erase the progress we’ve made.
The car feels better every day 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 also received a penalty, will start just behind his teammate George Russell, who occupies sixth on the grid. Antonelli leads Hamilton by 45 points in the Drivers’ Championship, while Russell, starting sixth, trails Hamilton by 50 points. All three drivers will need to manage the long‑run battle into Turn One, where the field often compresses after the first lap.
The Mercedes pair have not engaged in a direct on‑track duel since the Canadian Grand Prix, where they nearly collided on multiple occasions. Their intra‑team rivalry will be a storyline to watch as the lights go out for the final race before the summer hiatus.
Antonelli commented on his starting position: "The race won’t be easy. Overtaking is 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 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend schedule is packed with support series: the F3 Feature Race at 7:35 am, Porsche Supercup at 9:05 am, F2 Feature Race at 10:20 am, followed by the Grand Prix build‑up at 12:30 pm. The main event, the Hungarian Grand Prix, kicks off at 2:00 pm, with post‑race analysis and highlights later in the afternoon.
Fans can stream the action live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, or use the NOW platform for a contract‑free viewing experience. The race promises a blend of strategic tyre management, potential safety‑car interventions and a battle for podium places among the sport’s biggest names, all set against the historic backdrop of Budapest’s iconic circuit.