Ferrari's Charles clinches the top spot in Hungarian qualifying round
The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix is shaping up to be an exciting race, with Charles Leclerc securing a surprise pole position for Ferrari. The qualifying session was marked by changing conditions, particularly a shift in wind direction during the final Q3 segment, causing some issues for the McLaren team.
Lewis Hamilton had a difficult time during the qualifying, getting eliminated in Q2 and qualifying 12th. The seven-time world champion expressed his frustration over the radio, hoping for a strong race performance to challenge Leclerc and the Ferrari team.
McLarens have been the dominant force all weekend, and the team will be looking to capitalise on their race pace and overtake Leclerc early. However, the challenging wind conditions affected their pace, particularly in Q3. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, along with Team Principal Andrea Stella, noted that sudden and sharp wind changes disrupted their aerodynamic performance, preventing them from extracting more pace from the car.
A good start from Leclerc will be essential to hold off the McLarens. Leclerc's time of 1:15.372 in Q3 was faster than Piastri and Norris by 0.026s and 0.041s respectively. Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber's rookie driver, qualified an excellent seventh.
The run to Turn 1 at the Hungaroring is one of the longest on the F1 calendar, making the start crucial for track position. The Belgian Grand Prix was won by Oscar Piastri in a rain-hit race, and the drivers will be hoping for similar conditions to aid their overtaking efforts.
Despite Ferrari's mixed fortunes, Aston Martin showed a notable improvement, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll qualifying in the top six. Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, qualified in eighth place. Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, the Racing Bulls drivers, qualified ninth and tenth, respectively.
The Q3 session of the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix was officially the most competitive in Formula 1 history, adding to the anticipation for the upcoming race. This was one of the most unexpected poles of Leclerc's career, as he had struggled for pace throughout the free practice sessions.
The race promises to be a thrilling contest, with Leclerc starting from pole and the McLarens eager to overtake early. Hamilton will be looking to fight his way through the field and challenge for the win. The unpredictable wind conditions and the Hungaroring's reputation as a tough circuit for overtaking make this race one to watch.
Sports journalists are eagerly anticipating the interviews with Charles Leclerc following his unexpected pole position at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton, who had a difficult qualifying session, may also have insights on the challenging wind conditions that affected the performance of many drivers, particularly the McLaren team.
