2026 Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying Results: Norris Takes Pole Position With Lewis Hamilton Behind

McLaren and Ferrari have looked strong all weekend heading into a windy Qualifying, and it was an elated Lando Norris who took his first pole position of the 2026 season at the Hungaroring. 

With major upgrades brought to Hungary across the grid - notably for McLaren, Ferrari and Aston Martin - the grid was shaken up for the first time this season, with Fernando Alonso finally making it to Q2 in 2026. 

Q1 suggested it would be Norris vs Hamilton for pole position 

Lewis Hamilton came out the garage swinging, setting the pace on mediums two seconds ahead of the Aston Martin’s on softs behind him. Teammate Charles Leclerc had an early lap time deleted after a track limits violation. 

It was purple sectors for Lando Norris, who hustled his car four tenths ahead of the pack, and stayed ahead as the session unfolded, with Oscar Piastri still off the pace early in the session. 

George Russell was notably off the pace in Q1, stuck behind Nico Hulkenberg in P7, while teammate Antonelli finished behind Norris in P2. 

Gabriel Bortoleto requested that the team check his Audi over concerns for the floor - notably the plank and diffuser - after a rocky start to Q1, but the Audi’s looked strong as the tyres evolved, with Hulkenberg ahead of Russell heading into Q2. 

Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez were bogged down in the elimination zone in the opening session, as Alonso crept out of the bottom six for the first time this season. Williams drivers Sainz and Albon were knocked out too, with Albon voicing complaints about the balance of the car. Ollie Bearman was also knocked out, and will start the race in P17. 

Out in Q1:

17: Bearman 

18: Sainz 

19: Albon 

20: Stroll 

21: Bottas

22: Perez 

Mercedes struggle to match rivals at the Hungaroring 

As Q2 kicked off, Alonso set the first lap with a 1:20:696, before Max Verstappen started his first flying lap of the session, ending on a 1:18:249. The Red Bull has been solid so far this weekend, slotting in somewhat comfortably amidst the McLaren’s and Ferrari’s. 

Isack Hadjar spun at Turn 11, taking a trip through the gravel and bringing out double waved yellow flags, while Norris stormed around the track on used tyres, slotting in behind Verstappen. Russell had his first lap of Q2 compromised by Hadjar’s incident, as Hamilton was the first driver to complete a sub 1:18 lap. Leclerc was noted for a yellow flag infringement, however the stewards concluded that no further investigation was necessary. 

Once again, the Racing Bulls have dominated their closest rivals Alpine, with both drivers qualifying ahead of Gasly and Colapinto. Lawson was knocked out in P11, while Arvid Lindblad made it to Q3 for the fourth time in a row. 

The upgrades haven’t quite yet worked for Aston Martin, with a happier Alonso qualifying P16 after setting his final lap too early in the session while the track was still ramping up. Their run this weekend shows a glimmer of hope for the Silverstone-based team, but there is still plenty of work to be done. 

Out in Q2:

11: Lawson

12: Gasly

13: Colapinto 

14: Bortoletto 

15: Ocon 

16: Alonso

Russell stops, Verstappen spins and Norris capitalises 

Lando Norris looked difficult to beat as Q3 unfolded, taking provisional pole early ahead of Piastri on the first run - who seemed to come alive in Q2. Lewis Hamilton snuck ahead of Norris by a tenth of a second, finishing the first runs on provisional pole, but the shock was at Mercedes. 

First runs put Antonelli in fourth, with Russell all the way down in P7. It’s the furthest off the pace Mercedes have looked in a qualifying session all season. 

Hamilton blinked first, hitting the track first for the final flying lap, but neither Hamilton or Leclerc could improve, and a spin from Verstappen put Antonelli out of contention for pole. Norris’s timing was impeccable, managing to miss the yellow flags caused by Verstappen, as well as the yellows caused by George Russell, who stopped on track as his string of bad luck continues. 

Oscar Piastri was unhappy with Lewis Hamilton, who impeded him into Turn 1, which looks like a penalty incoming for Hamilton ahead of the Grand Prix.

Norris - who won in Hungary last season - will start the Grand Prix from pole position, with Hamilton joining him on the front row and Leclerc starting P3. Hamilton holds the record for the most race wins at the circuit, and will be looking to make a move early in tomorrow’s race, especially if he's hit with a penalty.

It looks like we’re set for a tough battle, but who will come out on top?