In a stunning display of speed and precision, McLaren dominated the qualifying session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, securing their first front-row lockout since 2012. Lando Norris claimed his third career pole position with a blistering time of 1:15.227, edging out his teammate Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.022 seconds.The McLaren duo’s performance pushed reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull to third place, 0.046 seconds behind Norris. This result underscores McLaren’s recent surge in form, with Norris expressing confidence in the team’s ability to challenge for victory in Sunday’s race.The qualifying session was marked by challenging conditions, with intermittent rain and the threat of intensifying showers forcing drivers to push hard from their first attempts. These circumstances led to several dramatic moments, including a crash by Red Bull’s Sergio Perez in Q1, relegating him to 16th on the grid.Verstappen, who still leads the championship by 84 points, acknowledged that Red Bull is now facing its stiffest competition in three seasons. The Dutch driver struggled to find the necessary grip for pole position and was further hampered by a red flag caused by Yuki Tsunoda’s crash in Q3, preventing a final flying lap.As the Hungarian Grand Prix marks the start of the second half of the Formula 1 season, McLaren’s performance suggests a potentially more competitive and exciting championship battle ahead. With both McLaren cars at the front, Norris believes they are in ‘the best position’ to control the race and challenge for victory.
Key points
- McLaren secured a front-row lockout in Hungarian GP qualifying, with Lando Norris on pole and Oscar Piastri second.
- Max Verstappen qualified third, acknowledging increased competition from McLaren.
- Challenging weather conditions and incidents, including Sergio Perez’s crash, marked the qualifying session.
