Leclerc Claims Stunning Pole Position as McLaren Struggles in Changing Winds
In a dramatic turn of events at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc snatched pole position as McLaren was left reeling from unexpected weather changes. After dominating every practice session, McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris found themselves unable to match their earlier pace when it mattered most.
Leclerc’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, marking his first pole in Hungary and the 27th of his career. With just 0.053 seconds separating the top four qualifiers, the session was one of the closest in Formula One history. Piastri qualified second, while Norris secured third, both drivers expressing their frustration with the shifting wind conditions that disrupted their rhythm.
“I think the wind changed a lot,” Piastri remarked after qualifying. “It always sounds so pathetic, blaming things on the wind, but it basically did a 180 from Q1 to Q3, making a lot of the corners feel completely different. My first lap in Q3 felt pretty terrible, and even my second lap was slower than expected. It’s difficult to judge in those conditions.”
Norris, currently 16 points behind Piastri in the championship standings, echoed his teammate’s sentiments, acknowledging that the McLaren team may have played it too safe in the unpredictable weather. “Charles did a good job on the last lap and probably risked a bit more in these conditions,” he said. “The wind really seemed to punish us. We thought we did some good laps, but we just couldn’t find the pace.”
Despite the challenges, both McLaren drivers remain optimistic about their chances in Sunday’s race. “I want to go forwards and I want to win,” Norris stated. “It’s going to be an exciting race, and I expect us to have a bit more pace than Charles.”
Leclerc will start the race with Piastri in second and Norris in third, followed closely by Mercedes’ George Russell and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
