Norris snatches Hungarian Grand Prix pole from Hamilton

Lando Norris claimed his first pole position of the 2026 season at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday, edging out Lewis Hamilton by a mere 0.012 seconds. Hamilton had been on track to extend his record to 105 career poles, and his first in a full Grand Prix since Hungary in 2023. However, Norris snatched the top spot at the last moment.

"It's been a while," Norris commented, expressing confidence throughout the weekend. Charles Leclerc will start third for Ferrari, trailing Norris by 0.238 seconds. The day proved challenging for Mercedes, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli qualifying fourth after appearing to be held up by Max Verstappen's spinning Red Bull. Teammate George Russell finished seventh and also faced potential repair work after stopping on track while returning to the pits.

Adding to the drama, Hamilton is under investigation for allegedly impeding Oscar Piastri of McLaren. The Australian driver reacted angrily, gesturing towards Hamilton after taking evasive action when he saw the Ferrari moving slowly through the first corner. Piastri, who qualified fifth, stated his main issue was "Lewis not looking in his mirrors."