Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc defeats McLaren, earning pole position in the Hungarian Grand Prix from the cockpit
Ferrari's Leclerc Takes Pole Position in Challenging Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying
In a tense and unpredictable qualifying session at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday, Charles Leclerc secured the first pole position of the year for Ferrari. The Monegasque driver outperformed his rivals, including Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, to take the top spot on the grid.
Leclerc's victory came despite the challenging weather conditions that significantly impacted the performance of many teams, particularly McLaren. Just before the start of Q3, gusts of wind grew stronger and changed direction as a storm system neared the circuit, causing track temperatures to drop. This disruption negatively affected all drivers' lap times in Q3 compared to Q2, except for Leclerc.
McLaren faced significant aerodynamic challenges due to the sudden shift in wind speed and direction. The wind was a major factor in the final part of qualifying and blew at 10 to 20 kph in a south-easterly direction, causing a headwind on the main straight that affected car performance differently for each team. Despite these challenges, both McLaren drivers managed to qualify second and third, demonstrating the strong pace of the McLeren MCL39.
Leclerc, who had consistently been the best of the rest, remained far from the pace of Piastri and Norris in practice. However, he adapted best to the changing conditions in Q3, taking pole partly because of his ability to manage these conditions.
Elsewhere in the field, Lewis Hamilton faced another frustrating day with Ferrari, qualifying 12th. The British driver has faced issues in his first season with the team, continuing the team's challenges. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen struggled with the balance of his Red Bull and qualified eighth.
Yuki Tsunoda struggled further, qualifying 16th and failing to score a point in six consecutive races. The Japanese driver will be hoping for a strong race performance to turn his season around.
Ferrari's confidence in team principal Fred Vasseur was reaffirmed last Thursday, with his contract extension announced. The team will be hoping that this stability will help them to return to the top of the podium, a position they last held with Carlos Sainz Jr.'s victory in Mexico in October 2024.
Leclerc expressed surprise and joy after qualifying first, calling it "one of the best pole positions I've had" and "the most unexpected". The Monegasque driver will be seeking his ninth Grand Prix victory when the race gets underway on Sunday.
References: [1] Ferrari website, "Leclerc takes pole position for Hungarian Grand Prix", 2 August 2025, link [2] Autosport, "Leclerc takes Hungarian GP pole as McLaren suffer in Q3", 2 August 2025, link [3] Motorsport.com, "Leclerc takes Hungarian GP pole as McLaren struggle in Q3", 2 August 2025, link [4] RacingNews365, "Leclerc takes Hungarian GP pole as McLaren struggle in Q3", 2 August 2025, link
Here are the sentences:
- Charles Leclerc's pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix showcased his exceptional skill in sports, given the challenging weather conditions and fierce competition.
- Despite McLaren's strong pace in sports, they struggled in the final part of qualifying due to the sudden shift in wind conditions, with Leclerc being the exception.
