Lando Norris joked 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, while Lewis Hamilton clung to the belief that he could still mount a comeback after a qualifying penalty at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The British world champion will start from pole on Sunday – his first pole since the Las Vegas showdown last November – after edging out Hamilton with a blistering final lap in the Q3 session. Hamilton had originally been set to join him on the front row in the Ferrari, but the stewards slapped a three‑place grid drop on the seven‑time champion for impeding fellow Brit Oscar Piastri during qualifying. Because of Hamilton's sanction, third‑placed Charles Leclerc was promoted into the second slot on the front row for Ferrari.
Behind them, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen filled the second row, while Kimi Antonelli received a three‑place penalty for speeding under yellow flags, pushing him further back. The provisional top ten therefore reads 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 GP in the past two years, sweeping a 1‑2 finish on both occasions, but many pundits still considered them outsiders for a third successive victory. The team’s biggest technical upgrade to the MCL‑40, introduced a few races ago, has coincided with a surge in form on the twisty, uphill‑laden Hungaroring, a circuit that seems to suit Norris’s driving style perfectly. Speaking to Sky Sports F1 about the challenges ahead, Norris outlined what he believes will be essential for success in the 70‑lap race: "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 fly." He added, "We have to be well prepared and the competition is fierce.
Mercedes and Ferrari have shown very strong race pace all season. We’re in new man's land – it’s the first time we’ve been at the very front, so we’ll see what we can learn as the race unfolds and how quickly we can adapt. I expect a very tough race, but it’s not impossible." McLaren’s most recent victory came eight months ago when Norris won the Brazilian Grand Prix, and the team has only managed four podiums in the first ten races of the current hybrid era. Norris, who displayed impressive speed at Spa‑Francorchamps last week but incurred a ten‑place grid penalty for exceeding his power‑unit allocation, remains cautious about over‑promising.
"Let’s just wait and see. It’s only qualifying – the race is still a long way off and will be a tough one," he said. "If you look back at Spa, I felt I had the pace to fight for a podium, maybe even a win, even if the result didn’t show it.
It’s encouraging to see that potential carry over to Budapest." He continued, "We brought some good upgrades, and it’s rewarding to see those developments translate into a tangible result. It lifts the whole team’s morale and creates a great atmosphere.
But you can’t rely on a single strong qualifying – I need a solid race on Sunday." Hamilton, for his third consecutive weekend under the stewards’ microscope, now faces the daunting task of clawing back from a five‑place drop to P5. The Hungaroring is notorious for its limited overtaking opportunities due to the lack of long straights, yet the circuit’s high tyre degradation often forces teams into varied strategies, offering Hamilton a potential avenue to recover positions if Ferrari can convert short‑run speed into lasting pace. After his penalty was confirmed, Hamilton posted an extensive Instagram note: "Sometimes you just can’t catch a break.
I’ve felt great all weekend, then everything falls apart. Going from being on the brink of pole to starting P5 is extremely frustrating. I always try to stay positive – sport is about highs and lows, and the margins are razor‑thin. Every point matters and you have to seize every opportunity.
After three penalties in three weeks, staying positive is harder, 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 pull something out of the race tomorrow. 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 for the race." Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who will line up just behind his teammate George Russell, noted that both drivers are now further down the order than they would have liked. Antonelli leads Hamilton by 45 points in the Drivers' Championship and Russell by 50 points, but all three must navigate the pack as they approach the first turn, where the field often bunches together. The Mercedes pair have not engaged in a direct on‑track battle since Canada, where they nearly collided on several occasions.
Their intra‑team rivalry will be a storyline to watch as the lights go out in the final race before the summer hiatus. Antonelli summed up the situation: "The race will not be easy. Overtaking will 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, the Porsche Supercup at 9:05 am, the Formula 2 feature at 10:20 am, followed by the Hungarian GP build‑up at 12:30 pm and the Grand Prix itself at 2:00 pm. Post‑race analysis, including the chequered‑flag reaction and a special notebook segment, will air later in the afternoon on Sky Sports Main Event.
Fans can stream the action live via NOW, with no long‑term contract required, and stay updated through Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel for the latest news, videos, and expert analysis. The Hungarian Grand Prix promises a thrilling showdown as drivers grapple with tyre wear, strategy, and the ever‑present challenge of overtaking on a circuit that rewards precision and patience above all else.