Share<\/a> Charles Leclerc took pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix for Ferrari, beating the McLarens of Oscar Piastri into second and third in a closely fought contest at the Hungaroring. It is Leclerc\u2019s first pole in Hungary, on the occasion of his 163rd grand prix, at a race he has still yet to win.<\/p>\n George Russell was fourth for Mercedes and Fernando Alonso in fifth for Aston Martin. There was huge disappointment for Lewis Hamilton, however, with the seven-times champion knocked out in 13th place during Q2, despite showing good pace in practice.<\/p>\n Read Giles Richards\u2019 full report from qualifying below:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tough to watch<\/strong> Lewis Hamilton being interviewed on Sky after going out in Q2, he\u2019s back on his self-criticism again: \u201cI\u2019m useless, no problem with the car, the car\u2019s on pole, probably need to change driver.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Speaking after the end of Q3<\/strong> both Piastri and Norris said the wind was a major factor in the difference in performance from Q1. They were slightly stunned not to be locking out the front row.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The back<\/strong> of the grid will look like this: Share<\/a><\/p>\n A bit of reaction from Leclerc<\/strong> after taking pole: \u201cThe whole qualifying has been extremely difficult and when I say that I\u2019m not exaggerating.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was super difficult for us to get to Q2 and Q3, in Q3 the conditions changed a little bit and everything became a lot trickier and I knew I had to just do a clean lap to target third.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day it\u2019s pole position and I definitely did not expect that.<\/p>\n \u201cI could feel [the grip change] a lot and I was on the lower side of the downforce so when the rain started in Q2 I was hoping that it wouldn\u2019t stay there. It didn\u2019t and the conditions changed which made it everything very tricky and at the end we were on pole position.<\/p>\n \u201cI honestly I have no words, it\u2019s probably one of the best pole positions I\u2019ve ever had because it\u2019s the most unexpected for sure.<\/p>\n On whether he can win tomorrow: \u201cThe start and Turn One will be key, I have no idea how it will go. One thing for sure is that I will do absolutely everything in order to keep that first place. If we manage to do that then that should make our life easier for the rest of the race.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.29 EDT<\/p>\n Final top ten for the Hungarian Grand Prix after Q3<\/p>\n 1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1min 15.372secs Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.20 EDT<\/p>\n Both McLarens<\/strong> were under 1min 15secs in Q2 but failed to better than time in Q3. That allowed Leclerc to take his first pole of the season.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Leclerc takes pole!<\/p>\n The McLarens are in and they can\u2019t go faster than Leclerc, Piastri goes second and Norris third. What a stunner for Ferrari.<\/p>\n Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc celebrates after qualifying in pole position. Photograph: Bernadett Szab\u00f3\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.08 EDT<\/p>\n Leclerc<\/strong> takes provisional pole with a 1min 15.372secs!<\/p>\n Charles Leclerc puts himself top of the pile. Photograph: Mark Thompson\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a011.07 EDT<\/p>\n The McLarens<\/strong> are on out laps. We\u2019ll have their times, and likely the names on the front row, shortly.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alonso<\/strong> posts the second quckest time. He\u2019s now ahead of Norris and just behind Piastri.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Three minutes to go.<\/strong> Stroll goes third and Alonso is currently going quicker. Can he go top?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Hadjar<\/strong> in the Racing Bull also failed to post a lap time. He is currently tenth, with Stroll ninth.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Aston Martins<\/strong> are out early again. Can Alonso improve on his initial time?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alonso and Verstappen<\/strong> make up the rest of the top five after those first laps.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Great time for George Russell<\/strong> in the Mercedes. He is currently third on the provisional grid.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Stroll<\/strong> has his lap time deleted for going over track limits.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Norris goes top<\/strong> but it\u2019s slower than his best in Q2. Piastri has a chance to post the fastest time, can he? He can. No times lower than 1min 15secs yet.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Alonso goes top<\/strong> ahead of Lawson and Leclerc in the early stages here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Stroll and Alonso<\/strong> head out as the first cars on track for Q3. Here we go.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.51 EDT<\/p>\n Impressive stuff<\/strong> from the Racing Bulls, who are both in the top ten shootout, and the Aston Martins, especially third-placed Stroll.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Eliminated in Q2<\/p>\n 11. Kimi Antonelli Share<\/a><\/p>\n Leclerc and Hamilton<\/strong> do not dramatically improve their times. Hamilton is heading out here.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Leclerc and Hamilton<\/strong> are heading out in hope of an open road. They should have time to get two goes at this.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Stroll<\/strong> is the only car on the track currently, it looks like the scare of rain has died down. No issues reported on the track.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Seven minutes to go in Q2,<\/strong> the bottom five is currently Hamilton, Sainz, Bortoleto, Antonelli and Colapinto.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Ferraris are on the bubble.<\/strong> Leclerc is 10th and Hamilton 11th.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Norris gets a \u201cwow\u201d<\/strong> from Martin Brundle on commentary, too right. The McLaren driver clocks a 1min 14.830secs. Piastri is close, but not quicker. They\u2019re one and two on the leaderboard as it stands.<\/p>\n McLaren’s Lando Norris powers down the Hungaroring home straight during qualifying. Photograph: Bradley Collyer\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.42 EDT<\/p>\n Fernando Alonso<\/strong> posts a 1min 15.395secs lap time to go fastest.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Mercedes drivers<\/strong> post the opening times of Q2 but are slower than their best in Q1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Kimi Antonelli<\/strong> is out first, let\u2019s see what he manages to post.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Rain jackets<\/strong> are coming on in the stands, apparently it is raining at turn six. This could impact things, the drivers want to get out there.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Q2 is underway<\/strong> and the cars are filtering out of the pitlane.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Q2 slightly delayed due debris,<\/strong> we\u2019ll be underway in around a minute.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Zak Brown<\/strong> says that McLaren are preserving tyres for Q3, which explains why Norris didn\u2019t improve on his first quick lap in Q1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Eliminated in Q1<\/p>\n 16. Yuki Tsunoda Share<\/a><\/p>\n Liam Lawson<\/strong> clocks in a late tim that pushed Tsunoda down and out of Q1. The Red Bull driver has been struggling og late, he\u2019s joined in the exit lane by Ocon, Gasly, Hulkenburg and Albon.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n With little over<\/strong> a minute of Q1 to go. Piastri back on top with a 1min 15.211secs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Fernando Alonso<\/strong> has just posted a new fastest time. He\u2019s clocked a 1min 15.281 secs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ocon, Gasly, Bearman, Tsunoda and Sainz<\/strong> are all in the danger zone ahead of the final hot laps of Q1. Five minutes to go.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Eight cars are back in the pits<\/strong> setting up for their final run. Piastri is still top dog, but the Mercedes cars are now two and three. Troublingly for Red Bull both of their cars are both in the bottom ten. Verstappen is 13th and Yuki Tsunoda is 17th.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Piastri goes top of the leaderboard<\/strong> with a 1min 15.554secs, he currently leads from Norris and Hamilton. We\u2019ve just ticked under ten minutes to go in Q1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Albon posts the first time of qualifying,<\/strong> it\u2019s in the 1min 17s and that won\u2019t be troubling the top of the leaderboard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here we go,<\/strong> Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon are now on track, 15 minutes to go until the end of Q1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We have a green light<\/strong> on Q1, no cars on track yet.<\/p>\n Cars line up for the qualifying session. Photograph: Anna Szila\u0301gyi\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a010.14 EDT<\/p>\n There is some rain on the horizon,<\/strong> it\u2019s not nearing the Hungaroring just yet. Worth tracking though.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re about 15 minutes from Q1.<\/strong> I\u2019d go make your cups of tea now, if I were you.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Fred Vasseur,<\/strong> who has just signed a new long-term deal to continue as Ferrari team principal<\/a>, has been speaking with Sky ahead of qualifying. Below are few of his key quotes.<\/p>\n On his new contract \u201cIf you want to win, you need stability in management.\u201d<\/p>\n On Ferrari\u2019s progress: \u201cLots of teams would like to be P2 [in the constructors\u2019 championship]. The target is P1 and we are trying to be closer to closer to McLaren.\u201d<\/p>\n On trying to get a race win this season: \u201cIt\u2019s important to win, but that is dependent on circumstances and we need to be closer to Mclaren in the race. We are close in quali but need to be closer in the race. Step by step we\u2019re getting closer.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Success breeds expectation as Lewis Hamilton,<\/strong> who has enjoyed both like few other drivers in Formula One<\/a>, knows only too well. Having set himself the task of returning a title for Ferrari, anticipation for his first season with the team was off the scale but success has been far from forthcoming. As the Scuderia have struggled the seven-time champion has been drawing on every bit of experience in what may be the defining challenge of his storied career.<\/p>\n At the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend Ferrari announced they were extending their contract with team principal, Fred Vasseur, backing the Frenchman who was instrumental in bringing Hamilton on board to complete his mission of reforging Ferrari into a championship-winning outfit after underachieving for so long. However as the season approaches its summer break, with 10 races to come after Budapest and Ferrari winless, Vasseur still has much to achieve.<\/p>\n Read Giles\u2019 latest from the Hungarian Grand Prix in full:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a009.30 EDT<\/p>\n Lando Norris is a bit of a different character<\/strong> to those you usually see at the top of end elite sport. You only have to look at the Red Bull and Ferrari garages to see sportsmen cast in the traditional mould, but Norris does not seem to enjoy needle. It was suggested to the McLaren driver yesterday that he needed to try and get in the head teammate Oscar Piastri if the Briton is to ultimately win the drivers\u2019 championship this season.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t enjoy that. In 200 years no one is going to care. We\u2019ll all be dead,\u201d replied Norris.<\/p>\n \u201cI am trying to have a good time. I still care about it, and that\u2019s why I get upset sometimes and I get disappointed and I get angry at myself. And I think that shows just how much I care about winning and losing.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that doesn\u2019t mean I need to take it out on Oscar. I just don\u2019t get into those kind of things.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Top ten from FP3 this morning<\/p>\n 1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1min 14.916secs![\"Giles](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Giles_Richards,_L.png\")
Giles Richards<\/p>\n
11. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
12. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
13. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
14. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
15. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
16. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
17. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
18. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
19. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
20. Alex Albon (Williams)<\/p>\n
2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.026
3. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.041
4. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.053
5. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.109
6. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +0.126
7. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) +0.353
8. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.356
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +0.449
10. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) +0.543<\/p>\n
12. Ollie Bearman
13. Lewis Hamilton
14. Carlos Sainz
15. Franco Colapinto<\/p>\n
17. Pierre Gasly
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Nico Hulkenberg
20. Alex Albon<\/p>\nGiles Richards<\/p>\n
2. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.032secs
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.399secs
4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.768secs
5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +0.829secs
6. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.878secs
7. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +0.912secs
8. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.924secs
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) +1.109secs<\/p>\n