By Bilal Ahmed
Lando Norris secured his first pole position of the year at the Hungarian Grand Prix, though he remains cautious about converting it into a victory. The McLaren driver’s achievement comes after a period where the team has been working to improve its performance. This pole position provides an opportunity for McLaren to build on recent progress, especially after strategic challenges earlier in the season.
Norris reflected on his qualifying performance, stating that a single good qualifying session is not enough and a strong race is needed. He also mentioned the team’s hard work to overcome previous setbacks, noting that recent progress is evident. This weekend’s upgrades for McLaren, introduced after the Miami Grand Prix, are seen as a positive step in correcting their aerodynamic philosophy.
Hamilton and Antonelli face penalties
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli both received grid penalties, which significantly altered the starting order for the race. Ferrari’s Hamilton was handed a three-place demotion from his second-place qualifying position for impeding McLaren’s Oscar Piastri during Q3. This penalty moved him down to fifth on the grid.
Antonelli, who had initially qualified fourth, also received a three-place demotion. His penalty was for failing to slow down sufficiently under yellow flags after Max Verstappen’s Red Bull spun. As a result, Antonelli will now start seventh, behind his Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Hamilton expressed his frustration on social media, noting that despite feeling strong throughout the sessions, things “just falls apart.” He highlighted the difficulty of maintaining positivity after receiving three penalties in as many weekends, referencing previous sanctions for a false start at Silverstone and a collision in Belgium. Despite the setbacks, he remains hopeful for the race, citing the team’s pace and the car’s improving feel.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur took responsibility for Hamilton’s penalty, explaining that the team did not warn Hamilton about Piastri’s approach in time. Hamilton himself stated he was unaware of Piastri’s presence until it was too late, believing he was the first car out and that others had finished their laps. He also questioned the team’s strategy of sending him out first for his final qualifying run, which he felt was not the right decision.
Hamilton had held provisional pole after the first runs in Q3 but did not improve his time on his final lap. Norris, who was among the last drivers to take to the track, managed to improve his time and secure pole position by a narrow margin. Hamilton acknowledged that the car had the potential for pole, but he felt he did not deliver on his final lap.
Antonelli’s penalty stemmed from an incident where he was investigated for not slowing down enough as he approached the final corner while Verstappen’s car was in the run-off area. Although Antonelli stated he lifted, stewards determined his speed was slightly higher than on his previous push lap, leading to the three-place grid penalty.
Aston Martin’s progress and race outlook
Elsewhere on the grid, Aston Martin showed signs of progress with a significant upgrade package. Fernando Alonso managed to advance beyond the first qualifying session for the first time this season, lining up 16th. While this position may not seem exceptional in absolute terms, it represents a major step forward for the team, allowing them to compete more effectively with other teams after a challenging period.
Alonso noted that the upgrade package, despite not changing many positions, has revitalized the momentum within the factory. He emphasized that the team now has a clear understanding of what they are looking for and specific targets for future packages and the next year. An engine upgrade from Honda is also anticipated after the summer break, which could further boost their performance.
Looking ahead to the race, overtaking is expected to be particularly difficult at the Hungaroring this year. Norris’ pole position offers a chance to capitalize on the team’s strong weekend performance. Charles Leclerc, who will start second due to Hamilton’s penalty, believes Norris is the favorite for the race, but also expects Mercedes drivers to be in contention. The race is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, with build-up starting at 12:30 PM.
McLaren’s team principal Andrea Stella described Norris’ pole as an “overachievement,” attributing it to McLaren’s strong execution in qualifying, coupled with an underperformance from Ferrari, Antonelli, and Mercedes. He acknowledged that the upgrades had enabled them to contend for pole, which was an unexpected outcome.
Norris’ pole position also comes after a season where McLaren has faced challenges, particularly in adapting to new regulations. After winning two consecutive constructors’ titles in 2024 and 2025, and Norris’ drivers’ championship last year, the team experienced some missteps in aerodynamic philosophy early in the current regulation cycle. The recent upgrade package is a result of efforts to correct this course.
Hamilton’s frustration was palpable, as he mentioned that he had felt good all weekend and that the car had been competitive. He also noted that he had expected Ferrari to be strong, given their pace in the corners, but McLaren seemed to take a bigger step forward in qualifying. The Hungarian Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sunday, July 26.
Source: bbc.com
