Budapest, Hungary, July 25 Brussels Morning Newspaper — Kimi Antonelli championship hopes remain firmly intact despite Mercedes missing its first Formula One pole position of the season. Lando Norris secured pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix with a brilliant final qualifying lap, edging Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by just 0.012 seconds and denying the British driver a record 10th pole at the Hungaroring.
Main Development
Norris delivered the fastest lap in the closing moments of Q3, posting a 1:17.207 to move ahead of Hamilton after Ferrari appeared set to take pole. Charles Leclerc qualified third, while Mercedes championship leader Kimi Antonelli secured fourth place to keep himself well positioned for Sunday’s race.
Hamilton’s narrow defeat also ended Mercedes’ run of taking pole position at every Grand Prix this season. Meanwhile, McLaren celebrated one of its strongest qualifying performances of the year ahead of a race where overtaking is traditionally difficult.
Key Details and Background
Antonelli enters the Hungarian Grand Prix leading the Formula One Drivers’ Championship and remains in a strong position despite starting from the second row. Oscar Piastri qualified fifth for McLaren, with Max Verstappen sixth after a late spin affected the final stages of qualifying.
George Russell finished seventh, while Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad, and Nico Hülkenberg completed the top ten.
Race officials were also reviewing an incident involving Hamilton following qualifying, although the provisional starting grid placed Norris on pole.
Industry or Public Impact
The Kimi Antonelli championship battle continues to attract significant attention as Formula One heads into the second half of the season. Mercedes, McLaren, and Ferrari have all shown competitive pace, increasing expectations for a closely fought championship.
McLaren’s improved qualifying performance also highlights the impact of its recent car upgrades, while Ferrari has demonstrated consistent progress over recent race weekends.
Expert Reactions and Analysis
Qualifying at the Hungaroring is often considered one of the most important sessions of the weekend because overtaking opportunities are limited during the race. Norris’ final lap showcased McLaren’s pace under pressure, while Antonelli’s fourth-place result keeps the championship leader within striking distance of the front runners.
With only fractions of a second separating the leading teams, race strategy, tyre management, and pit-stop execution are expected to play decisive roles.
What Happens Next
Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix will determine whether Norris can convert pole position into victory or whether Antonelli can strengthen his championship lead with another strong points finish. Ferrari will also look to challenge through Hamilton and Leclerc as the battle among the top teams continues.
Norris delivered a standout qualifying performance to deny Hamilton a historic pole position, while the Kimi Antonelli championship campaign remains firmly on course. With three teams showing race-winning pace, the Hungarian Grand Prix is set to play an important role in the 2026 Formula One title race.
