Lando Norris has set the Formula 1 world buzzing by securing pole position for the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, while Pierre Gasly finds himself starting from the pit lane due to an unfortunate decision during qualifying.
The Hungarian Grand Prix grid is set, and it’s Lando Norris who has clinched the top spot. Norris, in his McLaren, managed to navigate through tricky conditions during qualifying to clock an impressive 1:15.227 in Q3. This puts him ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri, marking a McLaren 1-2 at the start of the race. The weather conditions certainly added an unpredictable element to the mix, with light rain affecting grip for all drivers throughout the session.
Max Verstappen put up a strong fight in his Red Bull, equipped with the latest upgrades, but he fell short by a mere 0.046 seconds, placing him in third on the grid. Alongside Verstappen on the second row is Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, ready to make his mark in the race ahead.
Lewis Hamilton, in pursuit of an astounding ninth win at this circuit, will start from fifth place, closely accompanied by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The Aston Martin duo, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, will begin the race from the fourth row, adding more excitement to the anticipated lineup.
Meanwhile, Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda of VCARB occupy the fifth row. Over at Haas, Nico Hulkenberg leads the charge to break into the top 10, followed by Valtteri Bottas in a Sauber that has shown significant improvements.
The Williams team occupies the seventh row, with Alex Albon ahead of Logan Sargeant. Kevin Magnussen holds the 15th spot after unexpectedly knocking Sergio Perez out of Q1. Perez, driving for Red Bull, faced a mishap where he lost control during Q1, leading to a spin and hitting the barriers. This unfortunate event relegates him to 16th on the grid.
George Russell, last time’s pole sitter, suffered a surprising Q1 elimination and will start 17th, side by side with Zhou Guanyu from Sauber. The all-Alpine back row consists of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, the latter affected by a strategic misstep from Alpine during qualifying. Gasly took on new power unit elements resulting in a start from the pit lane, as per the Formula One regulations.
With the track set and drivers ready, the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix promises a thrilling competition. As Lando Norris leads the pack from pole position, all eyes will be on him and the McLaren team to see if they can convert their strong start into a win.
