McLaren’s Lando Norris secured his first 2026 grand prix pole, beating Lewis Hamilton with a final‑lap surge in Hungary. The session saw the track surface breaking up, especially in the last two corners, making grip assessment difficult for all drivers.

Fernando Alonso made a significant breakthrough for Aston Martin after the weekend’s debut of a virtually new car. He broke out of the first session for the first time this season, starting 16th – 2.8 seconds off pole – yet two seconds faster in relative pace than earlier in the year. The veteran Spaniard, 45, said he felt relieved and optimistic about the team’s improvements.

The track’s softness also troubled other cars. Lewis Hamilton’s teammate, George Russell, suffered a water leak on his final run, forcing him to stop at Turn One to protect his engine. Kimi Antonelli was a clear third‑place contender; he praised the car’s step in Q3, noting it felt “alive” despite yellow‑flag setbacks.

Overall, the Hungarian weekend highlighted both McLaren’s pace and Aston Martin’s progress, while the challenging surface tested the drivers’ adaptability. The season’s first pole by Norris and Alonso’s promising performance set the tone for the remainder of the championship.