BUDAPEST : Formula One world champion Lando Norris secured his first pole position of the season for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday as McLaren ended Mercedes’ run of poles, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was demoted three places after qualifying.
Norris produced a late flying lap to edge Hamilton by just 0.012 seconds, but the Briton’s hopes of a first pole since the 2023 Hungarian Grand Prix were dashed when stewards penalised him for impeding McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri during qualifying.
The penalty promoted Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc to the front row alongside Norris.
Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who had qualified fourth, also received a three-place grid penalty for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags following Max Verstappen’s spin, dropping the Italian to seventh on the grid.
The result marked the first time in 11 races this season that Mercedes had failed to secure pole position.
“Very happy to be back on top,” Norris said. “It’s been tight the whole weekend, but we seemed quick from the first laps we did and we brought a few upgrades.
“I’m in the best position for the start. But these guys (Ferrari) get good starts and have been fast all season.”
Leclerc, who won the British Grand Prix and finished second in Belgium last weekend, will start alongside Norris, with Piastri and Red Bull’s Verstappen occupying the second row.
Hamilton will line up fifth after his penalty, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell, while Antonelli starts seventh.
“I didn’t know he was coming,” Hamilton said of the incident involving Piastri. “I thought everyone had finished their lap. It wasn’t intentional.”
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said the error was the team’s responsibility, explaining Hamilton had not received the radio warning in time.
Verstappen’s late spin triggered yellow flags, forcing Antonelli and Russell to back off, but stewards ruled the championship leader had not reduced his speed enough.
“The yellow flag came while I was entering the corner, so I tried my best to lift,” Antonelli said. “It was a shame.”
Russell, meanwhile, said Mercedes were investigating a water leak that emerged late in qualifying.
“We lost water pressure and had a water leak,” Russell said. “We don’t know where it’s come from. Fingers crossed it doesn’t affect anything for tomorrow.”
