Charles Leclerc takes his first pole position of the season as both McLarens struggled to hook a great lap time in Q3.
Q1
The track ramped up at an incredibly significant rate thanks to the temperatures dropping rapidly. This meant that times were tumbling, and almost anybody could be at risk.
Red Bull had been struggling all throughout practice, and that performance was being replicated in Q1. Verstappen was only 11th fastest, and while Tsunoda was only a bit over one tenth slower, the field is so tight that it meant he was eliminated in Q1, going 16th fastest.
ELIMINATED
15 Franco Colapinto Alpine +0.664
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16. Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull Racing +0.024
17. Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.091
18. Esteban Ocon Haas F1 Team +0.148
19. Nico Hulkenberg Sauber +0.206
20. Alexander Albon Williams +0.348
Q2
Rain had began to fall at the start of Q2, but only very lightly and only in the first part of the track. This meant that while some drivers seemed to be affected, lap times weren’t too different than from Q1.
Lewis Hamilton has scored more wins at the Hungaroring than any other driver, but he had struggled through qualifying, getting knocked out in Q2 on pure pace at the first time of his career at this track.
Antonelli continued his own difficult run of form, having failed to make Q3 once again, complaining of a lack of rear grip.
Fellow rookie Gabriel Bortoleto was happy to make another appearance in Q3 though, with it being the third time he’s made that achievement in four races.
ELIMINATED
11. Oliver Bearman Haas F1 Team +0.007
12. Lewis Hamilton Ferrari +0.015
13. Carlos Sainz Williams +0.094
14. Franco Colapinto Alpine +0.472
15. Kimi Antonelli Mercedes +0.699
Q3
Piastri took the early advantage by going fast enough to be on provisional pole position after everyone’s first laps, though both he and Norris were slower than the times they were setting in Q2, so it was still open for either of them to take.
George Russell couldn’t be discounted either, having been fastest by the end of the second sector, but managed to lose a chunk of time in the final sector on his first lap.
Aston Martin had looked strong all weekend up to this point, and they decided to take their final laps early, where they found themselves going into second and fourth place before everyone else went back out.
Charles Leclerc had taken provisional pole position after his final lap, all the while the two McLarens were struggling to make improvements in the first sector.
Both Norris and Piastri would continue to struggle for improvement throughout the rest of their laps, and neither would end up being fast enough to take pole position, leaving Leclerc to take his first of the season.
Qualifying Results
1. Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:15.372
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 Racing +0.356
9. Liam Lawson Racing Bulls +0.449
10. Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls +0.543
