Hungarian GP 2025
AUGUST 2, 2025
Qualifying Report - Leclerc stuns McLaren to take Hungary pole
© Ferrari
Charles Leclerc took an unexpected pole position for Ferrari at the Hungarian Grand Prix, beating both McLaren drivers as shifting conditions disrupted qualifying at the Hungaroring.
McLaren had led every session up to Q3, and Lando Norris appeared the favorite for pole after logging a 1m14.8s in Q2. But neither he nor team-mate Oscar Piastri could replicate that pace in the final shootout, as Leclerc delivered a 1m15.372s lap that proved untouchable.
Piastri came closest, just 0.026s slower with a 1m15.398s to secure a front-row start. Norris slotted into third with a 1m15.413s, just ahead of George Russell, who gave Mercedes a strong fourth place on the grid thanks to a 1m15.425s.
Aston Martin locked out row three, with Fernando Alonso posting a 1m15.481s and Lance Stroll following closely on 1m15.498s. Gabriel Bortoleto continued his strong rookie form for Sauber with a 1m15.725s to take seventh.
Max Verstappen, still struggling to extract consistent performance from the Red Bull, managed only 1m15.728s to take eighth. He edged Racing Bulls pair Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, who completed the Q3 order with times of 1m15.821s and 1m15.915s respectively.
The big story from Q2 was the elimination of Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari driver had initially looked safe after a 1m15.702s lap, but late improvements from others dropped him to 12th. He was sandwiched between Haas’ Oliver Bearman, who posted a 1m15.694s, and Carlos Sainz, who managed 1m15.781s in his Williams.
Further down, Franco Colapinto qualified 14th with a 1m16.159s for Alpine, ahead of Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who struggled with rear grip and could only produce a 1m16.386s.
Yuki Tsunoda was the highest-profile casualty in Q1, missing the cut with a 1m15.899s, just behind the Q2 benchmark. Pierre Gasly (1m15.966s) was once again outqualified by Colapinto, while Esteban Ocon could only manage 1m16.023s after picking up a puncture from debris.
Nico Hulkenberg (1m16.081s) and Alexander Albon (1m16.223s) will line up on the final row, with Albon visibly struggling with a loose Williams throughout the session.
Leclerc’s pole, his first since Monaco, reshuffles expectations for Sunday’s race and highlights how sensitive this circuit can be to changing wind and track conditions.