Hungarian GP 2024
JULY 20, 2024
Qualifying Report - McLaren locks out front row
Lando Norris led an all-McLaren front row, securing pole position with a scintillating lap time of 1m15.227s. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, was just 0.022 seconds behind, ensuring a McLaren one-two start for Sunday’s race. The session was marked by a late red flag caused by Yuki Tsunoda’s crash, which ultimately preserved the McLaren duo’s positions at the top.
Norris laid down his fastest lap on his initial run in Q3. While aiming to further improve his time, the session was interrupted by Tsunoda’s crash at Turn 5. This incident brought out a red flag with just over two minutes remaining. As a result, many drivers, including championship leader Max Verstappen, couldn’t complete their final flying laps. Verstappen, who initially set the pace in Q3 with a time of 1m15.555s, found himself relegated to third after being unable to match McLaren’s pace on his subsequent attempts.
Carlos Sainz of Ferrari will start from the second row alongside Verstappen, taking the fourth spot. Lewis Hamilton, who narrowly made it into Q3, managed to secure fifth place, just ahead of Charles Leclerc in sixth. Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will start seventh and eighth respectively, showcasing a strong performance for the team.
Daniel Ricciardo, who returned to the F1 grid with AlphaTauri, impressed by qualifying in ninth place. He improved his position significantly post-red-flag, showcasing his skill and experience. Yuki Tsunoda, despite causing the red flag, rounded out the top ten, securing a spot in Q3.
The session began with light rain, which had fallen between the F2 race and the start of F1 qualifying. This made for a tricky Q1 as drivers navigated a drying track on soft tyres. The conditions improved throughout the session, but not without incident. Sergio Perez, driving for Red Bull, spun off at Turn 8, hitting the barriers and bringing out the first red flag of qualifying. His early exit means he will start from a disappointing 18th position.
George Russell’s misfortune continued as he mistimed his final run in Q1. Attempting to take advantage of the improving track conditions, Russell found himself short on fuel and unable to stay out for a final lap, resulting in his elimination and a start from 17th on the grid.
Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo managed to improve on his final lap but only to 18th, just ahead of Perez. The two Alpine drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, did not go out for final runs in Q1 and ended up at the back of the grid, with Ocon starting 19th and Gasly 20th.
With McLaren’s surprise front-row lockout, the stage is set for an exciting race on Sunday. Verstappen will undoubtedly be looking to regain ground from third place, while Sainz and Hamilton will also be in the mix, eager to capitalize on any opportunity. The Hungarian Grand Prix promises a thrilling battle, with strategic decisions likely to play a crucial role in the outcome.
The unexpected qualifying results add an intriguing twist to the championship fight, and all eyes will be on Norris and Piastri as they lead the field into Turn 1. Will McLaren convert their qualifying success into a race win, or will the likes of Verstappen and Hamilton disrupt their plans? The answers will unfold on Sunday in what is shaping up to be a captivating Grand Prix.