Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying: Lando Norris secures pole position
Norris Claims Pole in Hungary
Lando Norris of McLaren has secured pole position for the upcoming Hungarian Grand Prix, marking his second pole at this circuit and the 17th of his career. This achievement represents a significant moment for McLaren, as they become the first team this season to prevent Mercedes from taking the top spot in qualifying. The team’s performance follows upgrades introduced at Miami and further developments in Canada, which have proven effective.
McLaren has a strong history at the Hungarian Grand Prix, boasting a record 13 victories. With Norris winning last year and Oscar Piastri in 2024, the team is in a position to potentially achieve three consecutive wins at the event. Andrea Stella, a representative for McLaren, expressed pleasant surprise at the result, noting that while they knew their upgrades were working, they did not anticipate securing pole position.
Norris himself acknowledged the challenge ahead despite his strong starting position. He stated he is in the “best position” but anticipates a “tough race.” He also expressed interest in the tire choices of other competitors, noting that Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc used medium tires in Q1.
Qualifying Session Highlights
The qualifying session saw various incidents and challenges for other drivers. Lewis Hamilton expressed disappointment with his performance, attributing it to a lack of grip on his final lap, a sentiment shared by Charles Leclerc. Hamilton also suggested that going out first might have been a mistake. The session also saw a spin from Max Verstappen, which brought out yellow flags and impacted the hopes of Mercedes drivers for improvement.
George Russell of Mercedes faced issues, including a water leak, which his team principal Toto Wolff also mentioned. Russell hopes the leak will not affect his race performance on Sunday, stating that the team’s race pace appears strong. He also noted that they could have adjusted the setup for faster qualifying times and will assess their decision on Sunday.
Rookie driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli also had a challenging start to the weekend, having missed the first practice session. He acknowledged that this put him “a bit on the back foot,” a situation that occurs twice per campaign when a rookie participates in FP1.
Weather Forecast for Race Day
The 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix marks the 11th race weekend of the season and the final round before the summer break. The weather forecast for the race day on Sunday, July 26, suggests warm and slightly humid conditions. Daytime temperatures are expected to range from 20 to 32°C, with track temperatures potentially reaching around 50°C.
There is a 40% chance of precipitation after 15:00, though significant weather interference during the Grand Prix is considered unlikely, as the majority of the rain is anticipated to arrive after the session concludes. Winds are predicted to be light to moderate, averaging 10 km/h, with gusts between 35-40 km/h. The preceding days, Friday, July 24, and Saturday, July 25, saw pleasant and dry conditions, with temperatures reaching 26°C and 29°C respectively, and no rain expected.
The race is scheduled to begin at 2pm BST on Sunday, July 26.
Source: theguardian.com
