Charles Leclerc delivered a stunning performance in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, securing his first pole position of the 2025 Formula 1 season. In a dramatic session at the Hungaroring, the Ferrari driver pulled out a blistering final lap to edge out the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who will start second and third, respectively.
Leclerc's pole position marks Ferrari's first of the 2025 season. It was an unexpected result, as the McLarens had shown strong pace throughout practice and qualifying. The Monegasque driver admitted to being surprised by his performance, stating that the whole qualifying session was extremely difficult. He emphasized the importance of a clean lap and acknowledged that he did not anticipate taking pole.
The qualifying session was held in tricky conditions, with some drops of rain in Q2 and fluctuating track conditions. Several drivers struggled to put together clean laps, but Leclerc managed to deliver when it mattered most. His final lap time of 1m 15.372s was just enough to beat Piastri by 0.026 seconds and Norris by 0.041 seconds.
George Russell in his Mercedes also impressed, securing fourth place on the grid. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in their Aston Martins will start fifth and sixth, respectively. Gabriel Bortoleto put in a strong performance for Kick Sauber, qualifying seventh, ahead of reigning world champion Max Verstappen in his Red Bull. Liam Lawson continued his improved form, qualifying ninth for Racing Bulls, with teammate Isack Hadjar rounding out the top 10.
Lewis Hamilton, however, had a disappointing qualifying session, failing to make it out of Q2 and will start in 12th position. Kimi Antonelli also experienced difficulties, finishing 15th after having a lap time deleted for exceeding track limits.
Leclerc's pole position gives him a strong opportunity to fight for his first win of the season. So far in 2025, he has secured five podium finishes but has yet to stand on the top step. His best result was second place at the Monaco Grand Prix. He currently sits fifth in the driver standings with 139 points.
The Ferrari driver has a total of eight Grand Prix wins, 27 pole positions, and 48 podiums in his Formula 1 career. His most recent win was at the United States Grand Prix in 2024. The last time Ferrari won at the Hungaroring was back in 2017 when Sebastian Vettel was behind the wheel.
Looking ahead to the race, Leclerc highlighted the importance of Turn 1. A good start and a clean run through the first corner will be crucial to maintaining his lead and securing a potential victory. However, with Piastri and Norris close behind, he will face a strong challenge from the McLaren drivers. The race is scheduled to start at 2 pm (BST).
