Leclerc takes unexpected pole position at Hungarian GP

Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) secured his first pole position of the season in the Formula 1 World Championship this Saturday, being the fastest in qualifying for the Hungarian Formula 1 Grand Prix, the 14th round of the championship.

Leclerc, who had not moved from the top of the grid since the 2024 Azerbaijan GP , set his best lap on the last attempt in 1:15.372 minutes, beating Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) by 0.026 seconds, with Briton Lando Norris (McLaren) third, 0.041 seconds behind.

The qualifying session for the Hungarian race was one of the tightest in living memory, with fellow Briton George Russell (Mercedes) securing fourth place, 0.053 seconds behind the fastest.

Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), despite a back injury, was fifth, 0.109 seconds behind.

Charles Leclerc was the only one to improve his time on the final attempt of the session, at a time when the Hungaroring track conditions worsened, with the wind increasing in intensity and the asphalt getting colder.

“Things have changed completely,” lamented Piastri, who led the championship at the start of this race, with a 16-point lead over Lando Norris.

The Australian explained that the change in wind between Q1 and Q3 makes the drivers feel “the corners in a completely different way”.

Charles Lelerc's pole position, the 27th of his career and Ferrari's 10th in Hungary, surprised everyone. "I didn't expect to finish second behind a Ferrari," Piastri admitted.

The Monegasque driver himself, who this year saw his place as Ferrari leader at risk with the arrival of Lewis Hamilton at the Scuderia, was in disbelief.

"I don't understand Formula 1 today. It was really hard for me to get through to Q3. It was definitely one of my best pole positions, especially because it was unexpected," he emphasized.

A result that contrasts with Hamilton's 12th, who didn't even make it to the final phase of qualifying, Q3.

"I'm useless. The team doesn't have any problems; they have a car in pole position. So they'll probably have to change drivers," said the seven-time world champion, after failing to make it to Q3 for the second consecutive race.

Also Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), reigning champion, did not get beyond eighth place on the grid.

The Hungarian GP race takes place on Sunday at 2:00 pm (Lisbon time).