Ferrari clinches pole position at Hungarian Grand Prix, thanks to Leclerc's impressive qualifying performance.
In the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifiers, held at the historic Hungaroring circuit, Aston Martin made a notable stride forward as Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll qualified fifth and sixth respectively. This marked a significant improvement for the team, which has been battling consistency issues this season.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari seized pole position, securing the Italian team's first pole position of the season in a regular grand prix. Leclerc has had five top-three positions this season and now has a real chance of securing Ferrari's first win of 2025 if he can stave off the McLarens on Sunday.
Leclerc's teammate, Oscar Piastri, joined him on the front row. Piastri, who leads the drivers' standings with 284 points, was surprised to find himself second to a Ferrari in the qualifying session. Piastri's teammate, Lando Norris, qualified third, and expressed that he felt Leclerc had risked a bit more with his final flying lap, with the wind changing towards the end of the session.
Norris's third place qualifying performance came as a boost for McLaren, who have won 10 out of 13 races so far this season and have six one-two finishes. Norris's teammate, Lewis Hamilton, expressed disappointment with his qualifying performance, saying he is "useless" and suggesting he should be replaced.
Reigning champion Max Verstappen qualified eighth fastest for Red Bull. The Hungaroring, a track where Hamilton previously enjoyed success with eight wins and nine poles, has yet to see him stand on a podium for Ferrari.
Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar rounded out the top 10 on the grid for Racing Bulls. Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto will start seventh for Sauber, the future Audi factory team.
George Russell completed the second row for Mercedes. The Hungarian Grand Prix race itself saw Lando Norris take the victory, closing the points gap to Piastri to 9 points. The constructors' championship is dominated by McLaren with 559 points, having a large lead ahead of Ferrari with 260 points and Mercedes with 236 points.
After the Hungarian GP qualifiers and race, Piastri leads the drivers' standings narrowly with Norris close behind, while McLaren maintains a commanding lead in the constructors' championship. The Formula One season continues with the Belgian Grand Prix in August.
[1] Formula1.com
[2] BBC Sport
[3] ESPN F1
Despite Aston Martin's commendable progress in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifiers, sports enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the performance of top teams like Ferrari and McLaren in the upcoming races. Notably, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari sealed pole position, while Lando Norris of McLaren secured third place in qualifying, hinting at an exciting contest between these teams.
