Norris secures pole position at Hungarian Grand Prix, Hamilton under investigation
Norris Claims Pole
Lando Norris of McLaren secured his first pole position of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, outpacing Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 0.012 seconds. Norris’s final lap in the session in Hungary proved decisive. Hamilton had initially led the first runs in Q3 by just over 0.1 seconds from Norris, but neither Hamilton nor his teammate Charles Leclerc improved on their subsequent attempts.
The session concluded with some drama, including a spin by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the final corner. This incident affected Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, who had to slow down, resulting in them finishing fourth and seventh respectively. Verstappen managed to get his car moving again before Norris completed his pole-winning lap.
Norris expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “Very happy to be back on top, especially at a track where you certainly want to be on pole.” He also mentioned that his laps in Q3 were not his best, including the final one, making his pole position a pleasant surprise. McLaren had introduced an upgrade package for this weekend’s race.
Hamilton and Antonelli Face Investigations
Lewis Hamilton is under investigation for allegedly impeding McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at Turn One after completing his final lap. Hamilton stated he was not warned by his team about Piastri’s approach, learning of it only when Piastri was at the apex behind him. He believed everyone else was on an out-lap, having been the first car out of the pit lane.
Hamilton described his last lap as his worst, noting a snap into Turn One that put him down by 0.15 seconds. He felt the car had the potential for pole position, making the outcome difficult to accept. Piastri, who qualified fifth, directly accused Hamilton of “not looking in his mirrors,” indicating that the yellow flag was not the issue for him.
Kimi Antonelli also faces an investigation for a potential yellow-flag infringement. Antonelli suggested that Mercedes might have been slightly off with their tire strategy earlier in the session but made improvements in Q3. He acknowledged that a podium finish was a possibility, but not pole.
Verstappen, despite his spin and complaints about his car’s handling, secured sixth place, ahead of Russell and Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull. Arvid Lindblad of Racing Bulls and Nico Hulkenberg of Audi completed the top ten.
Aston Martin’s Progress
Fernando Alonso provided a positive note for Aston Martin, guiding the team into Q2 for the first time this season. This breakthrough occurred on a weekend where Aston Martin debuted a significantly updated car. Alonso will start 16th, approximately 2.8 seconds off pole position, but this represents a relative pace improvement of two seconds compared to recent performances.
Alonso expressed relief, indicating that the team has begun to address the car’s weaknesses. He noted previous disappointments with upgrades but now feels a change in optimism within the factory. The 45-year-old driver is facing a decision about his future beyond this season. He believes in the potential of technical partner Adrian Newey and the team at Silverstone, but questions the timeline for achieving success.
Drivers encountered challenges with the Hungaroring track surface, which was breaking up, particularly in the final two corners. Norris specifically mentioned the difficulty in judging grip levels in these sections. Russell experienced a water leak during his final run, which sprayed water onto his rear tires, and was instructed to stop his car after crossing the finish line to prevent engine damage.
The Hungarian Grand Prix race is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, with build-up beginning at 12:30 pm and the race starting at 2 pm.
The top 10 qualifiers are:
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:17.207
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.012
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.238
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.272
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.477
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.518
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.533
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – +0.649
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – +1.074
- Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – +1.479
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Source: bbc.com
