Charles Leclerc sprung one of the surprises of the season – and rubbed salt into the gaping wound of Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari career – by taking pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The Monegasque set a blistering pace, 0.026sec ahead of McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri with Lando Norris third. George Russell was fourth quickest for Mercedes.
It was Ferrari’s first pole of the season, and it surprised everyone, including its architect. McLaren were meant to be on a different plane and were up to the point Leclerc mugged them.
‘Probably the best pole I have had because it was the least expected,’ said Leclerc, slightly nonplussed. ‘I don’t understand sport anymore.’
‘The wind turned 180 degrees,’ said Piastri by way of explanation for the turnaround.
As for Hamilton, he suffered another awful afternoon. It is embarrassing now. He qualified 16th in Belgium last weekend and this time 12th, two-and-a-half tenths off Leclerc when he was eliminated.
Charles Leclerc took a sensational pole during qualifying for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix
Leclerc beat out McLaren’s championship-contending duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris
Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate – Lewis Hamilton- could only muster up a time good enough for P12
This Ferrari is not to Hamilton’s liking but the Hungaroring’s configuration has always been. He was king of this place with eight wins and nine poles. But he is out of sorts like never before in his extraordinary career, and this was another sign of the nagging suspicion that aged 40 the magic has left him.
Leclerc has bettered him in qualifying 10 times to four since their partnership began in March.
Hamilton walked back from the garage holding his gloves over his visor, perhaps deterring cameramen from getting their desired shots. He does this on occasions, and you cannot be sure exactly why.
There was a spark of revival at Aston Martin, of which there have been precious few in recent months. They lie eighth in the constructors’ championship while both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll failed to make it out of Q1. On Saturday, however, they qualified fifth and sixth respectively.
A disappointing afternoon for Williams’ London-born Thai Alex Albon, too. After an impressive sixth place in Spa, he was bottom of the timing screens and will start 20th.
And Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda was another early faller – the fifth time this season that he has failed to make it as far as Q2. The Japanese driver, his confidence seriously tested, will start 16th. Defending champion Max Verstappen was eight fastest.
A decent showing again by Haas’ 20-year-old Brit Ollie Bearman. He qualified 11th, benchmarked by his team-mate Esteban Ocon’s 18th place.
