Charles Leclerc puts Ferrari back in pole position in Hungary

Chloe Buckley
Aug 2
3 min read

Written by Chloe Buckley

Charles Leclerc takes an unexpected pole position in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying ahead of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

Charles Leclerc claims pole position in Hungary | Credit: F1

Qualifying 1

Starting off qualifying in Hungary with a 50 degree Celsius track temperature, it was evident that the drivers were waiting for clouds to appear over the track. As the light went green, over one minute had passed in Q1 with no drivers out on track. Eventually, Both Williams drivers made their way out to set the first times. Alex Albon set the initial fastest time of 1:17:441.

As the rest of the grid made their way out of the pits, it didn't take long for Oscar Piastri to set a lap time of 1:15:554, continuing with his momentum from his win at Spa last weekend.

Both Mercedes drivers were looking quick in Q1 with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli coming second and third respectively in their early laps.

Despite missing FP1 due to injury, Fernando Alonso had a flying lap time of 1:15:281 to take P1 from Piastri, but it wasn't long until Piastri regained that position with a time of 1:15:211.

Esteban Ocon, whilst in the elimination zone, came over the radio with three minutes to go to report a screw in his front right tyre.

The track temperature dropping saw improving lap times for several drivers, including Carlos Sainz who got himself out of the elimination zone and into seventh.

Q1 eliminations:

Yuki Tsunoda
Pierre Gasly
Esteban Ocon
Nico Hulkenberg
Alex Albon

Qualifying 2

Light rain started to come down at the Hungaroring as qualifying two began. Unlike the beginning of Q1, the drivers quickly queued up in the pit lane before getting their banker laps in.

Out the gate, both Aston Martins are showing impressive speed. Alonso sets the time to beat with 1:15:395 with his teammate Lance Stroll following close behind.

Norris soon after set a very quick time of 1:14:890 with his McLaren teammate following close behind him too with a lap time of 1:14:941.

Ferrari were using old tyres for their banker laps which didn't set them any promising times as they were sitting near the elimination zone. However, after the rain went off, new sets went on and the pressure was on Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton to make their way up the grid. Leclerc moved into P5 and Hamilton into P7.

Hamilton was then pushed into the elimination zone and into 12th for his worst starting position at the Hungaroring. Kimi Antonelli was also pushed down and eliminated.

Q2 eliminations:

Oliver Bearman
Lewis Hamilton
Carlos Sainz
Franco Colapinto
Kimi Antonelli

Charles Leclerc during Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying | Credit: F1

Qualifying 3

Qualifying three got underway and Alonso went fastest with 1:16:025. But yet again, it was quickly taken away by Norris.

Piastri then got into provisional pole with a 1:15:398 lap time. George Russell also had a great first lap and is up into third.

Isack Hadjar has still not made his way out onto track and Lance Stroll had his lap time deleted due to track limits in turn 9.

Whilst trying to make his was out of 5th, Verstappen was struggling for grip on his out lap. Over the team radio, he said: "Already on the out lap. I just have no grip. It's like literally driving on ice."

Neither of the McLaren drivers could improve their track time, so Charles Leclerc managed to sneak his way into pole position on his final flying lap with a time of 1:15:372.