
Charles Leclerc stuns McLaren as he takes unexpected pole at Hungarian GP
Leclerc himself seemed stunned by the outcome. Just two days earlier, he had described the Hungaroring as 'by far the worst track of the season for me.'When told over team radio that he had secured pole, Leclerc responded with a disbelieving 'What?'Later, speaking to the media, Leclerc said, 'Honestly, I have no words. It's probably one of the best pole positions I've ever had because it's the most unexpected.'Starting on pole in Hungary offers a significant strategic advantage. The tight and twisty circuit is notorious for limited overtaking opportunities, making track position crucial. However, with overcast conditions forecast for race day, strategy could still play a major role.'I have no idea how it will go, but one thing is for sure — I will do absolutely everything to keep that first place,' said Leclerc, who will be aiming for his ninth Formula 1 win on Sunday.Contrasting Fortunes at FerrariWhile Leclerc celebrated at the top of the grid, it was a completely different story for teammate Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion could only manage 12th place in qualifying.'Every time, every time,' Hamilton muttered over the radio, frustrated with yet another disappointing Saturday.Ferrari are looking for their first Grand Prix win since Carlos Sainz Jr triumphed in Mexico last October, which also marked their last pole position.For Leclerc and the Scuderia, Sunday presents a golden opportunity to end their winless run and turn around what has been a challenging season.- Ends
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Oliver Rowland cheers for Formula 2 driver Arvid Lindblad at Hungarian Grand Prix, shares candid photo
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The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
Ferrari boss backs Lewis Hamilton to make a comeback after miserable Hungarian GP
Lewis Hamilton received support from his Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur on Sunday just hours after the Briton cut a dejected figure following a lacklustre drive to 12th place in the Hungarian Grand Prix. While team-mate Charles Leclerc proved unable to convert Ferrari's first pole position of the season into victory due to unexplained mechanical problems during the race, seven-time champion Hamilton was battling to escape midfield and finished where he started. As on Saturday, when he was dumped out of Q2 and appeared miserable, claiming he was 'completely useless' and saying the team should 'bring in another driver', Hamilton seemed utterly deflated. To most observers, it appeared as if the pressures of living up to the hype of his spectacular marquee move from Mercedes, where he won six titles, and adjusting to the culture, car and expectations at Ferrari were overwhelming him. At 40, talk of imminent retirement circled around him. But Vasseur was swift to defend Hamilton, who has always been prone to impulsive heart-on-sleeve reactions. 'I don't need to motivate him,' said Vasseur. 'Honestly, he's frustrated, but not demotivated. 'He's demanding, but I think it's also why he's (a) seven-time world champion. I can perfectly understand this situation. 'Sometimes, you are making comments on what the driver is saying (in) the car, but if you put the microphone on some other sportsmen, in football and so on, I'm not sure that it would be much better. 'Sometimes, just after the race or just after qualifying, you are very disappointed and the first reaction is harsh. I can understand the frustration, but we are all frustrated.' 'He will be back' Vasseur added Hamilton's weekend appeared worse than it really was because of the tight and competitive times that led him to miss out on reaching Q3 on Saturday. 'For sure, when you are a seven-time world champion, your team-mate is on pole position and you are out in Q2, it's a tough situation,' he said. 'But overall, we can also have a deep look that he was in front of Charles in Q1 and with the first set that he was one-tenth off in Q2. We were not far away from having the two cars out in Q2. 'I can understand the frustration from Lewis. That's normal and he will come back. He was stuck in a DRS train, but when he was alone, the pace was good. 'I'm sure that he will be back and he will perform.' Fourth-placed Leclerc backed his team-mate. 'At the end, we are one team and as much as I want to finish in front of Lewis, I want both of us to be successful and for Ferrari to be successful, and obviously this weekend has been a tough one for Lewis,' Leclerc said. 'But I have no doubt that it's a one-off and I'm sure the second part of the season will be a lot more positive.' Hamilton, sixth in the drivers' standings, but without a podium for Ferrari this year, said he was looking forward to a much-needed 'break from work' during F1's August holiday before the Dutch Grand Prix on the final weekend of this month.


Time of India
12 hours ago
- Time of India
F1 Standings update: Lando Norris closes in on Oscar Piastri after Hungarian Grand Prix win
Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris after win at Hungarian Grand Prix (Image credit: F1/X) The gap was narrow between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris before they reached Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix. The gap has become even narrower now, with Lando Norris clinching his fifth win of the season at the house-full Hungaroring circuit on Sunday. Piastri took second position in Hungary, where he had secured his maiden victory last year. As a result, the two McLaren drivers now stand just 9 points apart in the Formula 1 Driver Standings. Lando Norris is just 9 points away from Oscar Piastri in F1 Standings It was a thrilling race at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, as Norris won by the closest winning margin of the year — 0.698 seconds. After the race, Piastri leads the F1 Driver Standings with 284 points. Norris is just 9 points behind with 275 points. One need not worry about the rest, as Red Bull driver Max Verstappen stands far behind in third position with 187 points. He gained little on Sunday by finishing ninth. Who said what after the Hungarian Grand Prix After the win, Lando Norris shared pictures of his beautiful floral trophy and simply wrote, 'Not breaking this 1.' He was careful to move his and Piastri's trophies aside before joining in the champagne celebrations. He had broken Max Verstappen's winner's trophy at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2023, though he later apologised for it, saying it wasn't his intention. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Happens When You Massage Baking Soda Into Your Scalp Read More Undo Norris said after the win in Hungary, 'I'm dead, I'm dead! It was tough. We weren't planning on the one-stop at the beginning, but after the first lap, it was our only chance to get back into things. I was pushing flat out — the perfect result today. I didn't think it would get us the win; I thought it would get us into second, as I knew the pace was good. It's always a bit of a gamble; it requires good laps and no mistakes. We are fighting hard, both of us. It is tough but fun racing with Oscar.' McLaren CEO Zak Brown was full of praise for the two drivers. He said, 'It was great to see them race very hard but very clean, and they are happy boys. They know what they are doing; they know what the rules of engagement are. They are going for it, which is exactly what we want to see. It just shows how evenly matched they are.' Also Read: Hungarian Grand Prix 2025: Lando Norris takes fifth win, closes gap to Oscar Piastri in F1 World Championship Why Hungarian GP win is special for McLaren It was also, once again, a double podium moment for McLaren, which continues to be the fastest team this year. This is their fourth consecutive double podium this season. Even last year, Piastri had won his maiden race in Hungary, with Norris taking second place behind him. The moment was even more special as it marked McLaren's 200th win. It is the only team to do so after Ferrari. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!