The Hungarian Grand Prix has always been a circuit of twists and turns – literally. But Lando Norris took it to new heights today, as he seized pole position from under the noses of Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton in a heart-stopping qualifying session that will leave fans on the edge of their seats. The McLaren ace edged out Hamilton by just one hundredth of a second, marking a stunning turnaround for the Woking-based team following significant upgrades in Miami and Canada.
But Norris's victory may be short-lived, as Hamilton faces a potentially costly grid penalty after being accused of impeding Oscar Piastri during his hot lap. The Ferrari driver is alleged to have blocked Piastri at a crucial moment, leaving the Australian to settle for fifth place behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli in fourth and teammate Charles Leclerc in third.
The Hungaroring circuit's notorious corners often play havoc with engine advantages – but Norris exploited it perfectly, making the most of McLaren's upgraded car. It's his second pole at this tricky track and 17th of his career. With a rich history at this venue – including last year's win and Piastri's success in 2024 – the team will be hoping to make it three victories on the bounce.
Aston Martin, meanwhile, is still trying to find its footing. Despite bringing an overhauled B-spec car to Hungary, Fernando Alonso could only manage 16th place after a disappointing qualifying session. Team principal Adrian Newey has described their early-season struggles as a "complete nightmare" due to weight issues, aerodynamic inefficiencies and engine problems.
Off the track, there's more drama brewing. Malaysia is set to return to the F1 calendar – albeit under the Bahrain Grand Prix banner – with a race at the Sepang circuit scheduled for 4 October. And if Qatar and Abu Dhabi are disrupted by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, F1 may host its season finale at Imola instead.