Pole for Leclerc as Verstappen Struggles; Hamilton's 'Useless' Remarks Raise Eyebrows

Charles Leclerc will start from pole position at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix, beating McLaren's Oscar Piastri by just 0.026 seconds in a dramatic qualifying session. Lando Norris completes the top three, making both McLarens strong contenders at a circuit where overtaking is notoriously difficult.

Leclerc celebrates pole at Hungaroring as McLaren duo chase victory in Hungary GP 2025.

Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, had a disappointing qualifying session and finished 12th. A disappointed Hamilton said after the session: "It's me every time. I'm just useless... The team has no problems - the other car is on pole, so they probably just need to change drivers." It's another setback for the seven-time world champion, who comes after a difficult qualifying in Belgium a week ago.

Weather and track conditions

The weather is noticeably cooler than Saturday, with an air temperature of 22°C and a track temperature of 33.3°C. There are light west-northwest winds with gusts reaching 16 mph. Despite the track being dry, there is a 20% FIA risk of rain, and the nearest rain will be around 50 km away. Teams are preparing for dry conditions, but are cautious.

Aston Martin's comeback

Aston Martin's fortunes have taken a dramatic turn. After being left off the back row in Belgium due to a strong drag at Spa, they have bounced back with strong qualifying in Hungary. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll will start from fifth and sixth respectively - their best combined results this season.

Alonso said: "We were on the last row of the grid and now we are fifth and sixth. It's a huge change - we have to understand what is working and build on that."

However, the team faces a strategic challenge, as it only has one set each of medium and hard, meaning working on the soft may be inevitable.

Verstappen wins 200th Red Bull race amid struggles

Max Verstappen will start eighth for his 200th race with Red Bull. It has been a frustrating weekend for the reigning champion, as he and teammate Yuki Tsunoda have been facing setup and balance problems. Verstappen remains committed to the team and has confirmed he will remain with Red Bull until 2026, and dismissed speculation of a move to Mercedes.

"The whole weekend has been difficult for us. We will try to move forward and not look in the mirror," Verstappen said.

Tsunoda will start from the pit lane after a power unit change after qualifying.

McLaren's tactical dilemma

Despite good practice sessions, McLaren missed out on a front-row lockout. With both drivers trailing Leclerc, questions will also be raised about the team's strategy. Will Piastri and Norris combine to overtake Leclerc, or will it be everyone fighting for themselves?

Piastri, who won his first F1 race here last year, may try his luck again. He has proven his ability to win from the back, taking four of his seven victories without starting on pole position.

McLaren has a tyre advantage—both drivers have a new set of medium tyres and a new set of hard tyres—but Leclerc has only one new set compared to two new hard tyres. Meanwhile, Aston Martin may have to start on soft tyres, meaning it could face an early pit stop and traffic problems.

Pit Stop Strategy: The Key to Victory in Hungary

A green-flag pit stop here takes around 20 seconds—that time is halved under the safety car. With a big DRS effect (a gain of around 20 km/h and 0.45 seconds per lap), time and traffic can decide the outcome of the race. Tyre wear could also be higher due to track conditions being reset by cooling overnight.

Ferrari form and upgrades

Leclerc's pole is his 27th in F1 and comes after recent upgrades to the Ferrari, including a new rear suspension introduced in Belgium and a revised floor from Austria. These changes have boosted his confidence in the car's handling. The

Hungaroring hasn't been kind to Leclerc in the past — his best finish has been fourth, and he has suffered multiple DNFs. The Polish racer hasn't won here in the last four races, increasing the pressure on Ferrari to convert qualifying performances into race results.

Nevertheless, Leclerc was very happy after qualifying and said on the team radio: "Mother! Today I don't understand anything in Formula One."

Notable Performances and Celebrity Sightings

• Gabriel Bortoleto (P7) called his qualifying performance "special" after a poor start to the weekend.

• Oli Bearman is 11th alongside Lewis Hamilton.

• The duties of the national anthem were performed beautifully (not by Axl Rose, although Slash was spotted at the circuit and will wave the chequered flag).

Final Countdown: All Eyes on Budapest for F1 Showdown

The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix will start at 14:00 BST (18:30 IST). It is a 70-lap race which is expected to be without interruption, unlike the rain delays in Belgium last week. With unpredictable weather, McLaren's blistering pace, Ferrari's upgrades and Red Bull lagging behind, fans can expect a thrilling contest in Budapest.