Lando Norris secured pole position at the 2026 Formula 1® Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying session, ending Mercedes’ streak of dominance in this phase of the weekend. Norris edged out Lewis Hamilton by a mere 0.012 seconds with a final lap time of 1m17.207s, marking his first pole of the season and his first since the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The qualifying session saw Norris deliver a strong performance for McLaren, while Mercedes faced challenges on the bumpy and windy Hungaroring circuit. Andrea Kimi Antonelli managed to qualify fourth for Mercedes, but the team’s usual qualifying strength was noticeably diminished. George Russell, also driving for Mercedes, qualified seventh. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, now with Ferrari, took second place but is currently under investigation for allegedly impeding Oscar Piastri during the session. Charles Leclerc completed the top three for Ferrari.
Track temperatures reached close to 50°C, which made tyre management particularly important, especially in the final sector of the circuit. All frontrunners conserved at least two fresh sets of the softest Pirelli C5 tyres for the decisive Q3 runs. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing spun during Q3, which limited his qualifying position to sixth. Aston Martin showed progress with Fernando Alonso reaching Q2, aided by developments to their AMR26 car.
Midfield drivers also made notable strides, with Arvid Lindblad and Nico Hulkenberg qualifying ninth and tenth respectively. Some drivers, including Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson, and Haas’ Esteban Ocon, were eliminated before the final qualifying segment. Williams and Cadillac remained towards the back of the grid, with Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon qualifying 18th and 19th, and Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez occupying the last row.
The session highlighted the difficulties Mercedes encountered in finding the right balance on the challenging Hungaroring layout, which features a combination of bumps and windy conditions. This contributed to their first qualifying session loss of the year. Norris’s pole lap underlined McLaren’s capability to capitalize on such conditions, while Verstappen’s spin demonstrated the fine margins at play in the closing moments of qualifying.
Lewis Hamilton’s investigation for impeding Oscar Piastri remains open, with no penalty confirmed at this stage. The outcome of this review could influence the final starting grid. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s strong qualifying performance with both Hamilton and Leclerc in the top three positions reflects their ongoing competitiveness in the category.
Overall, the qualifying session at the Hungarian Grand Prix set the stage for an intriguing race, with Norris leading the field and Mercedes seeking to recover from their qualifying setback. The session also showcased the importance of tyre management and car setup in demanding conditions, factors that will continue to play a significant role throughout the weekend.
