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 spectacular victory in Las Vegas last November.
Norris secured the top spot with a blistering final lap in Q3, edging out Hamilton and handing the McLaren driver a historic moment at the Hungaroring. Hamilton had originally been set to join Norris on the front row in the Ferrari, but the stewards imposed a three‑place drop after he was found to have impeded Oscar Piastri during qualifying.
As a result, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was promoted to second place, while McLaren’s own Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen occupied the second row. Kimi Antonelli also received a three‑place penalty for speeding under yellow flags, reshuffling the midfield.
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 have dominated the Hungarian event for the past two years, sweeping a 1‑2 finish on both occasions. This year they entered the weekend as outsiders for a third consecutive win, but a substantial upgrade to the MCL‑40 has coincided with a surge in form on the twisty, uphill circuit. Norris, in particular, has thrived on the demanding layout, extracting maximum performance from the car’s revised aerodynamics and a new rear‑floor package. Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Norris outlined the ingredients he believes are essential for a successful Sunday: "You still need good pace, solid tyre management, and a clean start – otherwise you learn on the fly.
You have to prepare thoroughly and respect the competition. Mercedes and Ferrari have shown very strong race pace all year, so the bar is high." He added a note of humility: "We are in new man's land. It's our first time at the front, so we'll see what we can learn as we go 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 team has only managed four podiums in the first ten races of the current regulations era. Despite a strong showing at Spa‑Francorchamps last week, Norris served a ten‑place grid drop for exceeding his power‑unit allocation, reminding him that consistency will be key. "Let's just wait and see.
It's just qualifying – a long race lies ahead and it will be a difficult one, so we'll see," Norris said. He reflected on his Spa performance: "I thought I had enough pace to fight for a podium, maybe even a win.
I didn't get pole, but the potential was there. It's nice to see that carry over to this weekend." Norris praised the recent upgrades: "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 boosts motivation and atmosphere. It's rewarding to see work paying off.
But you can't rely on one good qualifying – I need a solid race on Sunday." For Hamilton, the situation is more precarious. The three‑place penalty drops him to fifth on the grid, and the Hungaroring is notorious for offering few overtaking opportunities because of its short straights and tight corners. However, the circuit is also known for high tyre degradation, which can open strategic windows for drivers willing to gamble on alternative tyre compounds.
In an Instagram post after the penalty was confirmed, Hamilton expressed his frustration: "Sometimes you just can't catch a break. Another weekend where I've felt great throughout the sessions, and then it falls apart. Going from being so close to pole to starting P5 is extremely frustrating." He tried to stay positive: "I always do my best to keep positive – sport is about the highs and lows, and it's in the margins.
Every point counts and you have to seize every opportunity. After three penalties in three weekends, it's becoming difficult to stay positive, 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 get something out of the race tomorrow." Hamilton added that the car has been improving: "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 always enjoy this track, so keep the faith and send good vibes for the race." Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who now starts one place behind teammate George Russell, also commented on his own challenges.
Antonelli leads Hamilton by 45 points and Russell by 50 points in the Drivers' Championship, yet all three face the risk of being caught in the midfield pack as the race unfolds. Antonelli said: "The race is not going to be easy.
Overtaking will be difficult, and we are starting farther back than we could have. Our long‑run pace on Friday was good, so we will do everything we can to fight for the win." The Mercedes pair have not engaged in a direct on‑track battle since Canada, where they nearly collided on several occasions. Their rivalry will be under the microscope this weekend, as the final Grand Prix before the summer break.
The full Sunday schedule includes a range of support races: the F3 Feature Race at 7:35 am, Porsche Supercup at 9:05 am, the F2 Feature Race at 10:20 am, followed by the Hungarian GP build‑up at 12:30 pm, the Grand Prix itself at 2:00 pm, and post‑race analysis later in the afternoon. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, or stream via NOW without a long‑term contract.
The Hungarian Grand Prix promises a blend of strategic intrigue, tyre management battles, and the ever‑present drama of a pole‑sitter defending his position against seasoned champions eager to reclaim lost ground.