Budapest, Hungary, July 25, 2026: McLaren’s Lando Norris delivered a stunning final flying lap to secure pole position for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, edging Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by just 0.012 seconds in a dramatic qualifying session at the Hungaroring.

Norris clocked a 1:17.207 on his final Q3 run, snatching pole away from Hamilton, who had looked set to start from the front after posting a 1:17.219 earlier in the session. The result marks Norris’ first Grand Prix pole position of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

With track temperatures approaching 50°C, tyre management proved to be the deciding factor around the tight and twisty Hungaroring. Norris found crucial time through the middle sector before producing a clean run through the final sequence of corners to secure the top spot.

Hamilton and Ferrari Settle for Front Row

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton continued Ferrari’s impressive qualifying pace by securing second place, just 0.012s behind Norris. Team-mate Charles Leclerc completed a strong outing for the Scuderia by qualifying third, ensuring Ferrari locked out the second and third fastest times.

Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed once again by qualifying fourth, only 0.272s adrift of pole, giving Mercedes a solid second-row start alongside Leclerc.

Late Drama Ends Final Runs

The closing moments of qualifying were interrupted after Max Verstappen spun during his final flying lap, triggering yellow flags. Shortly afterwards, George Russell was instructed to stop his Mercedes on track, preventing several drivers from improving their lap times.

Verstappen ultimately qualified sixth behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, while Russell finished seventh.

Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar continued his impressive rookie campaign by taking eighth, ahead of Racing Bulls youngster Arvid Lindblad, who delivered another standout performance in ninth.

Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg rounded out the top ten.

Norris Dominates Throughout Qualifying

Norris had already shown McLaren’s pace by topping Q2 with a 1:17.456 lap, finishing ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton. Hadjar recovered brilliantly from a spin at Turn 12 to comfortably progress into Q3, while Lindblad continued his excellent form to secure another top-10 qualifying result.

Liam Lawson narrowly missed the final shootout in 11th and will line up alongside Alpine’s Pierre Gasly. Franco Colapinto qualified 13th ahead of Audi rookie Gabriel Bortoleto.

Esteban Ocon was 15th for Haas, while Fernando Alonso could manage only 16th despite Aston Martin introducing updates this weekend.

Williams and Cadillac Struggle

Williams endured a difficult qualifying session, with Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon qualifying only 18th and 19th respectively after struggling with balance issues throughout the afternoon.

Lance Stroll finished 20th for Aston Martin, while Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez completed the grid in 21st and 22nd.

With overtaking traditionally difficult at the Hungaroring, Norris heads into Sunday’s race holding a crucial strategic advantage. However, Ferrari’s strong race pace, Mercedes’ consistency and Red Bull’s ability to recover through strategy promise an intriguing battle for victory.

2026 Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying Results