Norris secures pole position at Hungarian Grand Prix as Hamilton receives grid penalty
Lando Norris of McLaren achieved his first grand prix pole position of the season at the Hungarian Grand Prix. His final lap was 0.012 seconds faster than Lewis Hamilton, who had initially been fastest on the first runs.
Hamilton, however, received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate, during qualifying. This penalty moves Hamilton from second to fifth on the grid, potentially affecting his chances for a ninth victory at the circuit.
Qualifying Incidents and Penalties
The qualifying session saw a chaotic end, partly due to a spin by Red Bull‘s Max Verstappen at the final corner. This incident forced Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell to slow down. Verstappen managed to get his car moving again before Norris completed his pole-winning lap.
Hamilton’s penalty elevated his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc to second place on the grid. Antonelli is set to start third due to Hamilton’s demotion, with Piastri moving up to fourth. Antonelli is also under investigation for an alleged yellow-flag infringement during Verstappen’s spin.
Hamilton stated he was not warned by his team about Piastri’s approach until Piastri was already close behind him. He believed that, as the first car out, everyone else had completed their laps. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur took responsibility for the communication error, stating any mistake was the team’s.
The stewards’ verdict confirmed that Hamilton was traveling at a significantly reduced speed on the racing line, forcing Piastri to take evasive action and abort his lap. They concluded that Hamilton unnecessarily impeded Piastri.
Alonso’s Breakthrough and Team Optimism
Fernando Alonso made a significant advancement for Aston Martin, progressing out of the first qualifying session for the first time this season. This occurred on the weekend the team debuted a virtually new car. Alonso will start 16th, 2.8 seconds off pole, which represents a two-second improvement in relative pace for the team.
Alonso expressed relief, noting that the team appears to have understood the car’s weaknesses. He mentioned a change in optimism within the factory, despite previous disappointments with upgrades. Alonso faces a decision regarding his career continuation after this season.
He voiced confidence in technical partner Adrian Newey and the potential at Silverstone, believing it is a matter of time before the team has the best chassis and Honda provides the best engine in F1.
Driver Challenges and Grid Positions
Many drivers faced difficulties with the deteriorating track surface at the Hungaroring, particularly in the final two corners, where Norris found it challenging to judge grip levels. Russell also experienced issues during his final run, including a water leak that sprayed his rear tyres, leading him to pull over immediately after crossing the line to prevent engine damage.
Antonelli commented that the car felt more responsive in Q3, but the yellow flags were a setback. Verstappen, who had complained about the unpredictable handling of his Red Bull, qualified in sixth place, ahead of Russell in seventh, and Isack Hadjar in eighth. Arvid Lindblad and Nico Hulkenberg completed the top ten.
The top ten qualifiers are: Lando Norris (McLaren), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari, after penalty), Max Verstappen (Red Bull), George Russell (Mercedes), Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls), and Nico Hulkenberg (Audi).
The Hungarian Grand Prix race is scheduled for Sunday, July 26.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
