Leclerc’s Qualifying Struggles
Charles Leclerc, driving for Ferrari, secured a third-place start for the Hungarian Grand Prix after a qualifying session where he admitted to underestimating the impact of changing wind conditions. He will begin the race behind Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton. Leclerc’s performance in qualifying did not match the pace he displayed during the earlier practice sessions, where Ferrari had shown strong form.
The Monégasque driver explained that the wind shifted significantly, and he felt he did not adequately anticipate this change when setting up the car. This led to the car not feeling as comfortable as it had earlier in the day. He also mentioned that a yellow flag incident in Q2, caused by Isack Hadjar, further disrupted his plans and forced him to play catch-up during the session.
Leclerc noted that he felt “a bit out of sorts” since the morning, with the feeling in the car not being optimal from Q1. He highlighted specific difficulties at Turns 1 and 12, areas where the asphalt had recently been redone. He described struggling to find the right feel with the car and to anticipate its behavior in these corners, estimating he was about two-tenths of a second off the pace throughout qualifying.
Maximizing the Result
Despite the challenges, Leclerc believes he maximized the available result by securing third position. He acknowledged that the pace was never quite at the level of his teammate, Lewis Hamilton, during qualifying. The final lap in Q3, he explained, encapsulated the day’s frustrations, as he experienced a jolt at Turn 1 that impacted his rear tires and led to a loss of grip.
The tight margins at the Hungaroring mean that even small errors can have a significant impact on grid positions. Leclerc emphasized the importance of maximizing performance when gaps are minimal, an area where he felt he fell short. He also noted the need for two sets of fresh tires in Q2, indicating the effort required to stay competitive.
Historically, starting from pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix does not guarantee a win. Over the last twelve races, only three winners started from pole: Sebastian Vettel in 2017, and Lewis Hamilton in 2018 and 2020. In the same period, three drivers won from second place: Lewis Hamilton in 2016, Max Verstappen in 2023, and Oscar Piastri in 2024. This suggests that starting from the front row has led to a victory in roughly half of the races.
Looking Ahead to the Race
Despite the qualifying difficulties, Leclerc expressed optimism for the race, citing strong long-run pace observed during Friday’s sessions. However, he cautioned that this does not automatically guarantee a good performance, as other teams appear to have made significant advancements. He anticipates a highly competitive race, expecting it to be much closer than the practice sessions suggested.
Leclerc identified Lando Norris, the pole-sitter, as a primary rival for the race, noting Norris’s strong performance. He also expects Mercedes Benz to be in contention, given their consistent presence throughout the season. The Ferrari driver could potentially gain a grid position depending on the outcome of an investigation involving his teammate for obstructing traffic during the session.
The Hungarian Grand Prix is the 11th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The race is scheduled to begin at 09:00 AM ET in the US, 02:00 PM BST in London, 06:30 PM IST in New Delhi, 09:00 PM CST in Shanghai, and 11:00 PM AEST in Sydney.
Source: speedweek.com
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