Leclerc Surprises with Pole Position at Hungarian Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc defied expectations by claiming a stunning pole position for Ferrari at the Hungarian Grand Prix, putting him ahead of Mclaren‘s title contenders, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, in second and third, respectively. Leclerc posted a time of 1:15.372, finishing just 0.026 seconds ahead of Piastri, who continues to lead the championship standings.
Leclerc’s Unexpected Triumph
The Ferrari driver’s qualifying performance marks the team’s first pole of the 2025 season after introducing significant upgrades to their car just a week ago. Leclerc’s reaction reflected his disbelief: “Today I don’t understand anything in Formula 1. Honestly, the whole qualifying has been extremely difficult… it’s probably one of the best pole positions I’ve ever had,” he said.
McLaren’s Struggles
Despite looking strong throughout practice sessions, the McLaren duo faced difficulties in Q3 amid changing conditions. Piastri remarked on the impact of the wind: “It always sounds so pathetic blaming things on the wind… it did a 180 from Q2 to Q3.” Norris acknowledged Leclerc’s impressive lap, attributing his own performance to the challenging environment.
Mercedes and Aston Martin Fight for Points
George Russell secured fourth position for Mercedes, while Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finished fifth and sixth for Aston Martin. Alonso expressed his satisfaction: “It’s great to match my season-best qualifying. We’ve got a good chance in the race.”
Notable Grid Positions
The grid for the Hungarian GP sees reigning champion Max Verstappen starting from eighth after facing balance issues throughout practice. Meanwhile, Oliver Bearman and a struggling Lewis Hamilton will start from 11th and 12th, respectively, as Hamilton described his efforts as “absolutely useless” during qualifying.
Final Grid Summary
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- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:15.372
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- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:15.398
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- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:15.413
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- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:15.425
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- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1:15.481
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- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1:15.498
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- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 1:15.725
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- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:15.728
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- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 1:15.821
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- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 1:15.915
Looking Ahead to the Race
With Leclerc on pole, fans can expect an intriguing battle on race day as McLaren and Mercedes will aim to capitalize on any opportunities to disrupt Ferrari’s surprising momentum. The stage is set for an exhilarating Hungarian Grand Prix.
