Lando Norris took his first grand prix pole position of 2026 at the Hungarian Grand Prix, pipping Lewis Hamilton by just 0.012 seconds before the Ferrari driver was demoted to fifth for impeding McLaren's Oscar Piastri.
Key facts
- Lando Norris took pole for the Hungarian Grand Prix, his first of 2026.
- He beat Lewis Hamilton by 0.012 seconds in qualifying.
- Hamilton received a three-place grid penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri and will start fifth.
- Championship leader Kimi Antonelli also received a three-place penalty.
- Charles Leclerc qualified third, with Max Verstappen spinning on his final lap to line up sixth.
McLaren’s Lando Norris claimed his first grand prix pole position of the 2026 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix, edging out Lewis Hamilton in a dramatic finale at the Hungaroring. According to the BBC, Norris took top spot with the final lap of the session, while the Guardian reported the margin was just 0.012 seconds.
For a moment it appeared Hamilton had found his qualifying edge, the Guardian noted, only for the seven-time champion to be beaten “by but a breath” by the defending world champion. The Ferrari driver’s disappointment deepened after the session.
Hamilton was penalised three grid places for impeding McLaren’s Oscar Piastri during their final laps, according to the Guardian. As a result, the Ferrari driver will start the race from fifth place, a severe blow to what had looked like a strong chance of converting a front-row start into a win in his competitive car.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, of Mercedes, was also handed a three-place grid penalty, Sky Sports and the Guardian reported. Before penalties were applied, Antonelli had qualified fourth.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified third, with Piastri fifth for McLaren in the initial order. Max Verstappen was sixth for Red Bull after spinning on his final lap, while George Russell could manage only seventh and was told to pull his car off track following a mechanical problem, according to the Guardian.
Despite securing pole, Norris was cautious about his prospects. The BBC reported that while he has an opportunity to win his first grand prix of the year in Hungary, Hamilton said his positivity was being tested after another penalty.
Why it matters
The result gives Norris a strong platform to claim his first win of 2026 while the tight 0.012-second margin underlines how closely matched the front-runners are. Hamilton's penalty, alongside one for championship leader Antonelli, reshapes the grid and could shift the balance of a tight title fight.
Frequently asked questions
By how much did Norris beat Hamilton to pole?
According to the Guardian, Norris took pole by 0.012 seconds, an extremely narrow margin in a closely fought qualifying session.
Why was Lewis Hamilton penalised?
Hamilton received a three-place grid penalty for impeding McLaren's Oscar Piastri during their final laps in qualifying, and will start the race from fifth place, according to the Guardian.
Where did the other leading drivers qualify?
Charles Leclerc was third, Kimi Antonelli fourth, Oscar Piastri fifth, Max Verstappen sixth after a spin, and George Russell seventh before penalties were applied, the Guardian reported.