Well, well, well… Charles Leclerc has done it again. He snatched a surprise pole position at the Hungaroring—his first of the 2025 Formula 1 season. But the real question is: does he actually have the pace to win against the McLarens? Because let’s face it, around a circuit that’s basically “Monaco without the walls,” overtaking is notoriously tough.
On paper, McLaren should have the upper hand. Their long-run pace has been better all season, and both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri look strong heading into Sunday. But qualifying threw up some curveballs, and that’s where Ferrari and Leclerc suddenly came into the picture.
So how did McLaren lose their edge in Q3? That’s the head-scratcher. They looked untouchable in practice, yet when it mattered, Leclerc and Ferrari managed to sneak in and steal pole. It almost feels like McLaren tripped over themselves when the pressure ramped up.
And then there’s Lewis Hamilton. He was brutally honest after qualifying, calling himself “useless” and even going as far as to say Ferrari need a change in driver. It’s been a frustrating run for Lewis lately, and comments like that don’t exactly inspire confidence.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen continues to pull rabbits out of hats. Somehow, he dragged his Red Bull into Q3 again. But the shocker? He actually qualified behind a Sauber! Yep, Gabriel Bortoleto was at it once more, delivering another fantastic Q3 performance. He’s really starting to look like the breakout star of 2025. His teammate Nico Hülkenberg, though? Not so much. The man known as “Mr. Saturday” now shares the unwanted record of most Q1 exits this year, tied with Lance Stroll.
Speaking of Stroll, Aston Martin suddenly seem to have found pace from somewhere. Enough for people to ask: is this the real deal, or just a one-off? If they can convert this into a double points finish on Sunday, it’ll shake things up big time in the Constructors’ Championship.
Hungary is already living up to its reputation for drama. Sunday’s race is shaping up to be one of the most strategic battles of the season.
Charles Leclerc’s Pole Lap | 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix:
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