Hungary Grand Prix: Norris takes pole as Hamilton and Antonelli receive grid penalties
Lando Norris secured his first pole position of the year at the Hungarian Grand Prix, though he remains cautious about his prospects for a victory. The McLaren driver’s achievement comes after a period where the team has been working to improve its performance.
Norris’s pole position was confirmed after Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Antonelli both received three-place grid penalties. Hamilton, who had initially held provisional pole, was penalised for impeding McLaren’s Oscar Piastri during qualifying. Antonelli received his penalty for failing to slow sufficiently under yellow flags.
Grid Penalties Reshape Starting Order
Hamilton’s penalty means he will now start fifth on the grid, a significant drop from his initial second place. The incident occurred when Hamilton, after completing his final lap in Q3, slowed down and appeared to block Piastri through Turn One. Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur stated that the team was responsible for not warning Hamilton in time.
Hamilton expressed his frustration on social media, noting that he felt he couldn’t “catch a break.” He mentioned that despite feeling strong throughout the sessions, things “just falls apart.” This marks his third penalty in as many race weekends, following sanctions in Britain and Belgium.
Antonelli, who leads the Drivers’ Championship, will start seventh after his penalty. Stewards determined that while he did lift off the throttle when approaching a yellow flag incident involving Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, his speed reduction was deemed insufficient. The standard penalty for such an infraction is usually five places, but it was reduced to three due to some mitigation.
McLaren’s Progress and Aston Martin’s Step Forward
Norris’s pole position highlights the effectiveness of McLaren’s recent upgrades. Team principal Andrea Stella described Norris’s pole as an “overachievement,” attributing it partly to McLaren’s strong execution and an under-performance from Ferrari and potentially Mercedes. McLaren’s upgrades, introduced this weekend, are the result of efforts to correct their aerodynamic philosophy after a challenging start to the season.
Norris acknowledged the pace of his competitors but felt confident in his own driving and the car’s potential. He noted that while the upgrades don’t feel drastically different, they appear to be making the car quicker. He also reflected on a previous strategic misstep in Miami that cost him a potential win, suggesting this pole offers a chance for amends.
Meanwhile, Aston Martin also showed signs of progress at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Despite a difficult season, Fernando Alonso managed to advance beyond the first qualifying session for the first time this year, securing 16th place. This step forward is seen as a morale boost for the team, which has faced challenges with its car design and engine performance.
Alonso indicated that there is more potential to be unlocked in the car and that the recent package has revitalised faith within the team. He believes they now have a clearer understanding of their targets for future developments and for the next year. The next race after the summer break is expected to see a Honda engine upgrade for Aston Martin.
Overtaking is anticipated to be particularly challenging at the Hungaroring circuit this year.
Source: bbc.co.uk
As News GB's Senior Football Correspondent, Lewis Hartnell reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on south-coast football for a regional title. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Solent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Lewis lives in Southampton, where he watches youth football and follows the transfer market. “The week's training ground decides the weekend's headlines.”
