Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix with a stunning final lap, the McLaren driver delivering when it mattered most to edge Lewis Hamilton in a closely fought qualifying session.

Norris’ lap of 1:17.207 secured top spot by just over two tenths from Hamilton’s Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc completed the top three after another competitive display from the Italian team.

Tyre strategy played an intriguing role throughout qualifying. Every team except Ferrari relied exclusively on the soft C5 compound, while the Scuderia took a different approach by beginning the session on the medium C4. Hamilton completed three laps on the yellow-marked tyre before switching to softs, while Leclerc ran eight laps on mediums before making the change.

Norris used four sets of soft tyres across the session, saving his best until the decisive final run to secure his latest pole position.

The McLaren driver had already signalled his pace by topping the third and final practice session, where the soft tyre was again the preferred choice across the field. Only Liam Lawson, Aston Martin and Audi elected to give the medium compound meaningful running. Nico Hülkenberg and Lawson completed the longest stints on the C4, each covering 15 laps.

Norris’ quickest lap in final practice was a 1:17.939, with Hamilton second on 1:18.056 and Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli third on 1:18.068, suggesting the battle at the front would be finely balanced.

Conditions were the hottest of the weekend so far, with track temperatures climbing to 53C and ambient temperatures reaching 29C. Forecasts suggest it will be even warmer for Sunday’s race, making tyre management and the number of fresh sets available likely to be decisive factors in strategy.

Norris received the Pirelli Pole Position Award from Hungarian Olympic champion Michelle Gulyás, who won modern pentathlon gold at the Paris 2024 Games while setting a new world record.

2026 Hungarian Grand Prix: Qualifying Results

Eliminated in Q2

Eliminated in Q1