Can Charles Leclerc's Stunning Final Lap Secure Him the Hungarian GP Pole?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Charles Leclerc's final lap was crucial for securing pole.
- McLaren's strong performance put them in close contention.
- Weather conditions played a significant role in the qualifying outcome.
- Lewis Hamilton's challenges continue as he qualifies 12th.
- Emerging talents like Gabriel Bortoleto are making headlines.
Mogyorod, Aug 2 (NationPress) Charles Leclerc executed a breathtaking late charge to clinch pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday, clocking an astonishing final lap time of 1m 15.372s. He narrowly outpaced the McLaren pair of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris by mere thousandths of a second.
The qualifying session was filled with tension as light rain during Q2 and evolving track conditions set the tone for an exhilarating finish. Leclerc’s Ferrari appeared to be second-best for a significant portion of Q3, but the Monegasque driver delivered a spectacular lap when it counted the most, dethroning the McLaren drivers who had been exchanging top times.
George Russell showcased impressive form in his Mercedes to secure the fourth spot on the grid, while Aston Martin capitalized on their strong practice performance, with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll taking P5 and P6, respectively.
Gabriel Bortoleto emerged as one of the surprises of the day, delivering an exceptional lap for Kick Sauber to finish seventh, edging out reigning four-time World Champion Max Verstappen, who faced challenges in his Red Bull and could only manage eighth.
The Racing Bulls celebrated a double top-10 showing, with Liam Lawson continuing his strong streak after scoring points in Belgium to qualify ninth, just ahead of rookie teammate Isack Hadjar in tenth.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton continued to face difficulties as the seven-time World Champion exited in Q2, ending up in 12th place, voicing his frustration over the radio with a resigned “every time.” He finished between Haas driver Ollie Bearman in 11th and Williams driver Carlos Sainz in 13th.
Kimi Antonelli also missed Q3, initially qualifying 11th but falling to 15th after a lap was deleted for exceeding track limits, starting just behind Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who secured 14th.
The biggest letdown came from Yuki Tsunoda, who had reached Q3 in Spa but fell back to his Q1 struggles, qualifying 16th. Following him, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Haas’ Esteban Ocon will line up 17th and 18th, respectively.
Bringing up the rear were Nico Hulkenberg and Alex Albon, who couldn't improve their times in the final moments of Q1, relegating the Haas and Williams drivers to the last row for Sunday’s race.