Charles Leclerc secures surprise pole position at Hungarian Grand Prix amid wind disruptions
TOI World Desk | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Aug 04, 2025, 23:48 IST
( Image credit : AP )
Highlight of the story: Charles Leclerc grabbed a surprising pole position in the Hungarian Grand Prix. Shifting winds impacted McLaren's performance. Lewis Hamilton expressed disappointment with his own performance. Max Verstappen faced balance issues. The race outcome may depend on potential rainfall. Leclerc aims for his first victory this season. The Hungarian Grand Prix promises intense competition before the midseason break.
Charles Leclerc stunned the Formula 1 grid Saturday by securing pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix, delivering Ferrari’s first pole of the season amid shifting wind conditions that disrupted McLaren’s dominance and deepened tensions within the Ferrari camp.
Leclerc clocked the fastest lap in a turbulent qualifying session at the Hungaroring, edging out a field that had seen McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris dominate practice. The pole is Leclerc’s 27th in Formula 1 but his first of the 2025 season.
“Honestly, I have no words. It’s probably one of the best pole positions I’ve ever had because it’s the most unexpected,” Leclerc said after the session. Moments earlier, he reacted with audible disbelief when told of his top position over team radio.
The Monegasque driver had previously described the Hungarian track as his “worst” on the calendar, making the result all the more surprising. Pole position at the Hungaroring, a circuit known for limited overtaking opportunities, often proves decisive—though uncertain weather forecasts for Sunday’s race could add unpredictability.
“I have no idea how it will go,” Leclerc said. “But one thing for sure is that I will do absolutely everything in order to keep that first place.”
Leclerc’s performance came as swirling winds and overcast skies upended expectations in qualifying. McLaren’s Norris and Piastri, fastest in earlier sessions, were significantly slower in Q3, each dropping roughly half a second compared to their Q2 pace.
“The wind just changed a lot. Bizarre and somewhat frustrating,” said Piastri, who will start third behind Leclerc and Norris.
In stark contrast, Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton qualified a disappointing 12th, prompting a blunt self-assessment.
“I was absolutely useless,” Hamilton told Sky Sports after the session. “I don’t know what else to say. Ferrari might need to consider whether I’m the right driver.”
The seven-time world champion, competing in his first season with Ferrari, has yet to find consistent form. His comments came on the same day Ferrari executive chairman John Elkann acknowledged a “rough season” in an interview on the official Formula 1 website. Elkann reiterated the company’s confidence in team principal Fred Vasseur, who recently signed a contract extension.
Ferrari’s last Grand Prix victory came in October 2024, when Carlos Sainz Jr. — now driving for Williams — won in Mexico. Sainz also delivered the team’s most recent pole position.
Defending world champion Max Verstappen qualified eighth after struggling with the balance of his Red Bull, further compounding a difficult season. His teammate Yuki Tsunoda qualified 16th, extending his streak to six races without a points finish and increasing speculation about his future.
Sunday’s race may be influenced by potential rainfall, adding another layer of complexity at a track where strategy and tire management are already critical. Leclerc, who has converted just five of his previous 26 poles into wins, will be seeking his first victory of the season and the ninth of his career.
“There’s one real overtaking opportunity — Turn 1,” Piastri said. “Beyond that, it’s pretty much the pit lane.”
With McLaren pressuring Ferrari in the constructors' standings and intra-team dynamics playing out under pressure, the Hungarian Grand Prix promises high-stakes action before Formula 1 heads into its midseason break.
Leclerc clocked the fastest lap in a turbulent qualifying session at the Hungaroring, edging out a field that had seen McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris dominate practice. The pole is Leclerc’s 27th in Formula 1 but his first of the 2025 season.
“Honestly, I have no words. It’s probably one of the best pole positions I’ve ever had because it’s the most unexpected,” Leclerc said after the session. Moments earlier, he reacted with audible disbelief when told of his top position over team radio.
The Monegasque driver had previously described the Hungarian track as his “worst” on the calendar, making the result all the more surprising. Pole position at the Hungaroring, a circuit known for limited overtaking opportunities, often proves decisive—though uncertain weather forecasts for Sunday’s race could add unpredictability.
“I have no idea how it will go,” Leclerc said. “But one thing for sure is that I will do absolutely everything in order to keep that first place.”
Leclerc’s performance came as swirling winds and overcast skies upended expectations in qualifying. McLaren’s Norris and Piastri, fastest in earlier sessions, were significantly slower in Q3, each dropping roughly half a second compared to their Q2 pace.
“The wind just changed a lot. Bizarre and somewhat frustrating,” said Piastri, who will start third behind Leclerc and Norris.
In stark contrast, Leclerc’s Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton qualified a disappointing 12th, prompting a blunt self-assessment.
“I was absolutely useless,” Hamilton told Sky Sports after the session. “I don’t know what else to say. Ferrari might need to consider whether I’m the right driver.”
The seven-time world champion, competing in his first season with Ferrari, has yet to find consistent form. His comments came on the same day Ferrari executive chairman John Elkann acknowledged a “rough season” in an interview on the official Formula 1 website. Elkann reiterated the company’s confidence in team principal Fred Vasseur, who recently signed a contract extension.
Ferrari’s last Grand Prix victory came in October 2024, when Carlos Sainz Jr. — now driving for Williams — won in Mexico. Sainz also delivered the team’s most recent pole position.
Defending world champion Max Verstappen qualified eighth after struggling with the balance of his Red Bull, further compounding a difficult season. His teammate Yuki Tsunoda qualified 16th, extending his streak to six races without a points finish and increasing speculation about his future.
Sunday’s race may be influenced by potential rainfall, adding another layer of complexity at a track where strategy and tire management are already critical. Leclerc, who has converted just five of his previous 26 poles into wins, will be seeking his first victory of the season and the ninth of his career.
“There’s one real overtaking opportunity — Turn 1,” Piastri said. “Beyond that, it’s pretty much the pit lane.”
With McLaren pressuring Ferrari in the constructors' standings and intra-team dynamics playing out under pressure, the Hungarian Grand Prix promises high-stakes action before Formula 1 heads into its midseason break.