F1 | Hungarian Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying Recap: Charles Leclerc steals pole position from the McLarens in Hungary

Charles Leclerc handed Ferrari their first pole position of the Formula One 2025 season as the Monégasque driver stole pole position at the very end of the Hungarian Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session, denying the McLaren drivers another 1-2 start. Championship leader Oscar Piastri will start on the front row at P2 with Leclerc while Lando Norris could only manage a second row start at P3. 

For Ferrari it was an incredible result, especially after they had Lewis Hamilton failing to make the top 10. Aston Martin had a strong qualifying session as well with both drivers finishing in the top six while Sauber’s young rookie, Gabriel Bortoleto, out-qualified Max Verstappen as Red Bull continued to struggle. 

Q1 – Another Q1 exit for Red Bull and Tsunoda

The two Williams were the first to put up competitive times in Q1 with Albon going quickest with a 1:17.441s. Verstappen went on top of the timesheets when he got his first run done with a 1:16.346s before he was dislodged at the top by the McLarens, as Oscar Piastri’s 1:15.554s, almost four tenths quicker than his teammate, Lando Norris. 

The two Mercedes slotted into second and third place with George Russell being the lead Silver Arrow after a strong first flying lap while the Aston Martins also impressed with Alonso going fastest late on in the session with a stunning 1:15.281s. As the clock ticked down, it was both the Haas drivers, Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon and Liam Lawson in the drop zone. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda was a big name missing out from Q2 and the Japanese driver had yet another rough Saturday while Gasly, Ocon, Nico Hülkenberg and Albon failed to get out of Q1 as well.

Drivers eliminated in Q1:

Yuki Tsunoda
Pierre Gasly
Esteban Ocon
Nico Hülkenberg
Alex Albon

Q2 – Hamilton unable to make Q3 once again

Q2 kicked off with no team being able to go quicker than their Q1 runs except McLaren with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton being the biggest name in the drop zone. Hamilton’s struggles continued as the veteran world champion failed to get into Q3 once again while Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli had a late unfortunate moment which saw him exit in Q2 after failing to stay within the track limits that saw his lap time get deleted. Haas’ Ollie Bearman, Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Alpine’s Franco Colapinto failed to get out of Q2 as well.

Drivers eliminated in Q2:

Ollie Bearman
Lewis Hamilton
Carlos Sainz
Franco Colapinto
Kimi Antonelli

Q3 – Late improvement from Leclerc sees Ferrari take an unexpected pole

The McLarens, George Russell and Fernando Alonso were the quickest early on in Q3. While Piastri held provisional pole it was Fernando Alonso putting his Aston Martin between the two McLarens in the top 3 with Alonso getting 0.083s close to Piastri. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc’s 1:15.372s saw him steal provisional pole and both McLarens failed to improve on their times with the Ferrari driver pulling out an incredible late lap out of nowhere. 

Verstappen and Russell were unable to take pole away from Ferrari as well with Leclerc’s stunning lap seeing Ferrari take their first pole of the season.

Starting Grid for the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix (before penalties applied):

1. Charles Leclerc
2. Oscar Piastri 
3. Lando Norris
4. George Russell
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Lance Stroll
7. Gabriel Bortoleto
8. Max Verstappen
9. Liam Lawson
10. Isack Hadjar
11. Ollie Bearman
12 Lewis Hamilton
13. Carlos Sainz
14. Franco Colapinto
15. Kimi Antonelli
16. Yuki Tsunoda
17. Pierre Gasly
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Nico Hülkenberg
20. Alex Albon