Defending Formula 1 champion Lando Norris secured a significant advantage over Lewis Hamilton in the lead-up to the Hungarian Grand Prix, demonstrating strong pace throughout Saturday’s sessions at the Hungaroring circuit. Norris topped the final free practice on a hot and dusty day, clocking a fastest lap of 1:17.939, edging Hamilton’s Ferrari by 0.117 seconds. This marked the first occasion this season in which Mercedes had not led the final practice ahead of qualifying, indicative of the closely contested nature of the weekend.
The day’s track conditions were challenging, with temperatures rising to 52 degrees Celsius, contributing to a demanding environment for drivers and teams alike. The session featured a suspension of running after Sergio Perez’s Cadillac halted at turn two due to overheated brakes. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto led the early running but Alpine’s rookie Arvid Lindblad only appeared late in the session following power unit issues that required overnight, curfew-breaking repairs to Colapinto’s car from a previous crash.
In practice, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli was third fastest, 0.129 seconds slower than Norris, indicating an overnight boost in car performance. Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari, followed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in fifth. George Russell completed the top six for Mercedes. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar trailed in seventh and eighth places, respectively, while Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top ten. Aston Martin introduced updated B-spec cars but struggled, finishing 17th and 18th, with Fernando Alonso narrowly ahead of teammate Lance Stroll.
Qualifying later on Saturday saw Norris claim his first pole position of the 2026 season by a razor-thin margin of 0.012 seconds over Hamilton. The British driver, who last took pole at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, expressed confidence in both his driving and McLaren’s recent car upgrades but acknowledged the challenges a long race on Sunday would bring. Hamilton, on course for a record-extending 105th career pole and his first since Hungary 2023, was left to rue the narrowly missed opportunity. He described his performance as one of his best since joining Ferrari but admitted to shortcomings in delivery at a crucial moment.
The qualifying session was marred by controversy involving Hamilton and Piastri. Hamilton faces a potential grid penalty following an investigation into an alleged impeding incident. Piastri, visibly frustrated after having to take evasive action early in the session, accused Hamilton of not checking his mirrors, while Hamilton maintained he was unaware of Piastri’s position. This situation may affect the final grid, potentially promoting Charles Leclerc to second place alongside Norris.
Mercedes experienced a difficult day overall. Antonelli qualified fourth but was hampered by Max Verstappen spinning ahead during his flying lap, while teammate George Russell qualified seventh despite technical issues that caused a breakdown en route to the pits. Meanwhile, McLaren’s strong qualifying reinforced their competitiveness heading into Sunday’s race.
The Hungarian Grand Prix promises to be an intense battle as Norris seeks to convert his pole position into a first win of the season, while Hamilton and other contenders aim to challenge at a circuit known for its unpredictable racing.