Lando Norris secured pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix after a very tight qualifying battle, giving McLaren the top starting spot in Budapest. The margin was extremely small, with Norris finishing just one hundredth of a second clear of Lewis Hamilton.
Hamilton had initially been right in the fight for pole, but his qualifying session was overshadowed by a penalty. The Ferrari driver was given a three-place grid drop after stewards ruled that he impeded Oscar Piastri during qualifying.
That decision changed the picture for the race start, even though Hamilton had shown the pace to challenge Norris over a single lap. It also added another talking point to a session that was already defined by fine margins at the front.
For McLaren, Norris's pole was a significant result at a circuit where track position can be especially important. With Hamilton moved back on the grid, the focus now shifts to whether Norris can turn that qualifying advantage into a win on race day.
