Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc Claims First Pole of 2025 in Thrilling Hungaroring Shootout
Charles Leclerc produced a sensational late lap to grab pole position during F1 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying, edging out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in a nail-biting finish at the Hungaroring. His 1m 15.372s effort, delivered in the dying moments of Q3, secured Ferrari’s first pole of 2025 season by just thousandths of a second.
Leclerc’s Perfect Lap Denies McLaren Front Row Lockout
With drops of rain earlier in Q2 and track temperatures falling, conditions in the final segment proved tricky. Piastri initially topped the timesheets with a 1m 15.398s, but Leclerc strung together three flawless sectors to snatch the top spot. Norris settled for third, narrowly missing out on a front-row start alongside his teammate.
George Russell impressed in fourth for Mercedes, while Aston Martin’s strong weekend continued with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll taking fifth and sixth. Gabriel Bortoleto put in one of the surprises of the day, qualifying seventh for Kick Sauber ahead of four-time champion Max Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Q1 Drama and Early Exits
The opening segment saw Piastri set the early benchmark before Aston Martin’s Alonso briefly went fastest. Leclerc faced early pressure after sitting in the drop zone but recovered to progress. Yuki Tsunoda, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, and Alex Albon were eliminated in Q1, with Red Bull’s Verstappen only just scraping through in 11th.
Q2 Rain Threat Shuffles the Pack
Rain spots added to the tension in Q2, with Norris leading from Piastri. Both Hamilton and Antonelli missed the cut, joining Bearman, Sainz, and Colapinto on the sidelines. Verstappen made it through in eighth, surrounded by the Racing Bulls duo of Hadjar and Lawson.
Racing Bulls Deliver Double Top 10, Hamilton Misses Out
Racing Bulls enjoyed a strong outing as Liam Lawson and rookie Isack Hadjar locked out ninth and tenth. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton endured another difficult session, missing out on Q3 and finishing 12th, sandwiched between Haas rookie Ollie Bearman and Williams’ Carlos Sainz.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli also had a challenging day—initially missing the Q3 cut in 11th before being demoted to 15th for a track limits violation. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto will start 14th.
F1 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying Results (Hungaroring):
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:15.372
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:15.398
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:15.413
- George Russell (Mercedes) – 1:15.425
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1:15.481
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1:15.498
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – 1:15.725
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:15.728
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 1:15.821
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 1:15.915
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 1:15.694
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 1:15.702
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 1:15.781
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 1:16.159
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:16.386
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – 1:15.899
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1:15.966
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 1:16.023
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – 1:16.081
- Alexander Albon (Williams) – 1:16.223
Hungary Set for a Fierce Battle
With Leclerc leading a McLaren-heavy front three and Aston Martin showing competitive pace, the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix promises a high-stakes fight. The race gets underway on Sunday at 15:00 local time, with strategy and potential weather changes likely to play a decisive role.
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