Norris beats Hamilton to Hungary pole

McLaren's Lando Norris took his first grand prix pole position of 2026 in Hungary, edging Lewis Hamilton with a decisive final lap of the session. The late run secured Norris the top starting spot for the grand prix.

Qualifying in Hungary produced a dramatic finish as Norris delivered the fastest lap when it mattered most. Representing McLaren, he logged the session’s quickest time on his last attempt, denying Lewis Hamilton the top slot. This marks Norris’s first pole of the 2026 season and sets the grid for the race in Hungary.

Norris’s late charge changed the order at the very end of qualifying, converting practice pace into the pole position when the session concluded. The result gives McLaren a prime starting position for the grand prix. Securing a first pole of the year is a clear milestone for Norris and the team.

Hamilton was beaten by Norris’s final effort and will therefore begin the race from a position behind the McLaren driver on the grid. The outcome underlines the tight margins that separated the leading drivers during the session. Hamilton’s challenge came up short when the last laps decided the pecking order.

The session’s closing moments were decisive, with Norris finding the extra performance needed on his conclusive lap. That final push was sufficient to move him ahead of Hamilton and claim pole. The timing of the move meant there was no further opportunity for rivals to respond before qualifying ended.

For McLaren, Norris’s pole provides an advantageous starting place for the grand prix in Hungary and highlights the team’s competitiveness in qualifying trim. The achievement stands as his first pole of the 2026 campaign and will be reflected on the grid sheet for the race. It also places Lewis Hamilton immediately behind the McLaren on the starting order.

Norris will now begin the grand prix from pole position after beating Hamilton with the final lap of the session in Hungary. The result finalises the leading positions heading into the race and confirms Norris’s status as the top qualifier for Sunday.