Norris steals Hungary pole from Hamilton by 0.012s, ending Mercedes' 10-race qualifying streak
Lando Norris grabbed pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix by 0.012 seconds from Lewis Hamilton, snapping Mercedes' run of 10 consecutive poles in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Norris takes pole by 0.012s
On the final flying lap of Q3, McLaren's Lando Norris pulled out a time just 0.012 seconds quicker than Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari. The Briton secured his 17th career pole and his first since the Las Vegas Grand Prix last autumn. The lap broke through a season-long pattern: all ten previous qualifying sessions in 2026 had been topped by a Mercedes driver. The tight margins carried over from final practice, where Norris had already topped the timesheets with a 1:17.939, 0.117 seconds clear of Hamilton and 0.129 seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli.
Norris was candid after the session.
I'm very happy to be back on top. It was a tough qualifying. I had confidence all day. We did a good job, the car performed well. I'm really pleased for the team.
Hamilton, chasing a record-extending 105th pole, ended 0.012s adrift. He faces a possible grid penalty for impeding McLaren's Oscar Piastri during Q2. Charles Leclerc completed an all-Ferrari second row in third place.
Mercedes' perfect ten ends
Mercedes arrived at the Hungaroring with ten poles from ten races: six for championship leader Kimi Antonelli, four for George Russell. That run stopped when Antonelli could manage only fourth and Russell, slowed by a water leak, took seventh. Antonelli was also under investigation for allegedly speeding under yellow flags after Max Verstappen's late spin.
Team principal Toto Wolff was blunt.
We're simply not good enough. Kimi was a bit unlucky. We knew Budapest would be difficult. It's always been a McLaren and Ferrari track.
The reliability problem on Russell's car added to the frustration. The day brought a small positive for Germany: Nico Hülkenberg put his Audi tenth on the grid, although the gap to the front remained large.
It's positive to reach Q3, but the gap is large.
Fernando Alonso, in an Aston Martin fitted with 16 new components, was knocked out in Q2 and will start 16th.
Angry Verstappen and midfield moves
Red Bull's Max Verstappen spun late in Q3, triggering the yellow flags that complicated Antonelli's final attempt. The four-time champion was furious with his car over team radio.
The car is completely broken. It keeps getting worse. What a joke! What a s**** weekend.
He qualified sixth, one place ahead of the hobbled Russell, as the top ten was rounded out by cars from Alpine, Haas and the improving Aston Martin of Alonso.
Championship picture and the summer break
After the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, Formula 1 heads into its four-week summer break. Antonelli leads the drivers' standings with a 45-point advantage over Hamilton after ten of 22 rounds. Norris, who sits only fifth in the standings, hopes to convert his first pole of the season into a second consecutive victory at the Hungaroring. Racing resumes with the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort on 23 August.
