McLaren's Norris ends Mercedes monopoly with Hungary GP pole

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British Formula One driver Lando Norris of team McLaren drives during the Third Practice at the Hungaroring in Mogyorod near Budapest ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix 2026. David Davies/PA Wire/dpa

Lando Norris of McLaren claimed pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix as Mercedes' 100% qualifying record over the season came to an end on Saturday.

Reigning world champion Norris clocked 1 minute 17.207 seconds as he denied Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton a record extending 10th pole on the 4.381-kilometre Hungaroring by the fraction of .012 of a second.

Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari, ahead of championship leader Kimi Antonelli in the first Mercedes. Their second driver, George Russell, was seventh, behind former champion Max Verstappen, whose Red Bull spun late in the session.

Antonelli and Russell had claimed pole for all previous 10 grands prix of the season but were not the dominant force all weekend as Ferrari and resurgent McLaren dominated.

There was also joy for Aston Martin as an upgraded car helped them get out of Q1 for the first time in the season, with ex-champion Fernando Alonso finishing 16th.

Antonelli won last week in Austria for a sixth season success and tops the championship 45 points ahead of Hamilton. Russell is 50 points behind Antonelli.

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