Norris takes pole position
Lando Norris has secured his first pole position of the year at the Hungarian Grand Prix, driving for McLaren. Despite this achievement, Norris remains cautious about his prospects for a victory, reflecting on a previous strategic misstep in Miami earlier in the season. He emphasised the need for a strong race performance, stating, “You can’t just rely on one good qualifying, so I need a good race tomorrow.”
Norris’s pole position comes after McLaren introduced an upgrade package, their first since Miami, which appears to have positively impacted their car’s performance. The team principal, Andrea Stella, described Norris’s pole as an “overachievement,” attributing it partly to McLaren’s strong qualifying execution and an under-performance from Ferrari and Mercedes.
The McLaren driver noted that the pace had been evident throughout the weekend, even with other teams showing significant speed. He acknowledged the impact of the upgrades, saying, “We also had the upgrades this weekend, and it doesn’t feel that different, but it certainly seems to be going a little bit quicker, and that’s always a good thing.”
This pole position marks Norris’s second at the Hungarian Grand Prix and the 17th of his career. McLaren has a strong history at the circuit, with Norris winning last year and Oscar Piastri in 2024, suggesting a potential for continued success at a venue where they hold a record 13 victories.
Penalties shuffle grid for Hamilton and Antonelli
The qualifying session saw significant changes to the starting grid due to penalties issued to Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli. Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, was handed a three-place grid penalty for impeding McLaren’s Oscar Piastri during the final part of qualifying. This demotion means Hamilton will now start the race from fifth position, despite initially setting a provisional pole time.
Hamilton expressed frustration over the incident, stating he was informed of Piastri’s approach only when the McLaren was directly behind him. He later posted on social media, “Sometimes you just can’t catch a break. Another weekend when I’ve been feeling great throughout all the sessions, but then it just falls apart.” He also referenced previous penalties in Britain and Belgium, noting, “After three penalties in three weekends, it’s becoming difficult to hang on to that positivity.”
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur took responsibility for the incident, indicating that the team failed to warn Hamilton in time. Hamilton had been the first of the leading drivers to complete his final lap in Q3 and did not improve on his time, while Norris, who was the last driver on track, managed to pip him to pole by a narrow margin.
In a separate incident, Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes also received a three-place grid penalty. Antonelli was penalised for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags after Max Verstappen spun. This penalty means Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers’ Championship, will start the race from seventh position. Antonelli explained that he tried to lift off the throttle when the yellow flag appeared, but stewards determined his speed reduction was insufficient.
These penalties have significantly reshuffled the top end of the grid, with Norris’s teammate Charles Leclerc moving up to second, Piastri to third, and Verstappen to fourth.
Aston Martin’s progress
Aston Martin showed signs of progress at the Hungarian Grand Prix after a challenging season. The team introduced a significant upgrade to their car, which allowed Fernando Alonso to advance beyond the first qualifying session for the first time this year. While starting 16th may not seem extraordinary, the ability to compete more effectively with other teams marks a notable step forward for Aston Martin.
The team’s design process had a late start, and they faced issues with their Honda engine and aerodynamic philosophy. Alonso highlighted the importance of the upgrade for team morale, stating, “It was important for everyone in the team as it has been a tough period in both factories.” He added that the team now has a clearer understanding of their goals for future packages and the next year, which he considers the biggest change of the weekend.
This development is seen as crucial for potentially persuading Alonso to commit to another season with the team. A further development is anticipated for Zandvoort, coinciding with Honda’s new engine. The immediate goal for Aston Martin is to achieve a level of respectability after what their team principal and designer, Adrian Newey, described as a “complete nightmare” start to the season.
Looking ahead to the race, Norris acknowledged the strong race pace shown by Mercedes and Ferrari drivers during practice simulations. Overtaking is expected to be particularly challenging at the Hungaroring this year, which could make starting position even more critical.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
