Lando Norris has taken pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix, marking the third pole of his career and the second of 2024 after Barcelona. The McLaren driver delivered a stunning performance in a rain-impacted qualifying session, positioning himself as the favorite for victory in Sunday’s race. Max Verstappen, meanwhile, will start from third place.
Norris set the best time on his first attempt in Q3, a lap so fast that no one could surpass it. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, managed to outpace Verstappen, securing a front-row start for McLaren. Carlos Sainz, who performed admirably in wet conditions, will start fourth.
In a post-qualifying interview, Norris did not hold back, sending a clear message to his rival Verstappen. “It feels incredible to be on pole again,” Norris said. “Max is a tough competitor, but today we showed what we’re capable of. It’s time for a change at the top, and I’m ready to challenge for the championship. I am very confident now that I can beat all my rivals, including Max. I firmly believe in a victory for McLaren from pole position in the main race.”
The session was not without drama. The track started wet but quickly dried, leading to unpredictable conditions. An accident involving Sergio Perez in Q1 brought out the medical car, and the subsequent cleanup allowed the track to dry further. This unexpected turn of events saw George Russell, pole-sitter at Silverstone, knocked out in Q1.
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Norris’ pole position places him in a prime spot to close the gap in the Drivers’ World Championship, where he currently trails Verstappen by 84 points. With a strong performance on Sunday, Norris aims to capitalize on his qualifying success and further challenge Verstappen’s dominance.
As the Hungarian Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on Norris to see if he can convert his pole position into a victory and shake up the championship standings.
