LANDO NORRIS SAW off McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to claim pole position for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The British driver executed an impressive lap at the Hungaroring to beat Piastri to top spot by just 0.022 seconds and claim only the third pole of his career – and McLaren’s first front-row lockout in nearly a dozen years.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen had to settle for third, 0.046 sec back.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished fourth and British Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton took fifth. In the other Mercedes, George Russell crashed out of qualifying at the first hurdle and is set to start 17th.
RB’s Yuki Tsunoda crashed heavily at turn five, leading to a suspension with just two minutes and 13 seconds of qualifying remaining.
But while Norris led off a gaggle of cars at the restart, light drizzle meant none of the major players improved on their earlier times.
Norris, 24, has looked the real deal throughout practice and his timely pole arrives just a fortnight after he confessed to throwing away a home win at Silverstone.
“I am very happy because ending up on top is the best part,” said Norris, 84 points behind Verstappen in the standings at the midway stage of the season. “A one-two for the team is fantastic.
“We have got confidence. We are not searching for it. We have a good car to fight for pole and that is what we did today. To end up on pole is sweet.”
Hamilton vowed to use his victory at Silverstone as a springboard to further success but both he and Mercedes were brought back down to earth at a venue which the seven-time world champion has so often ruled.
Hamilton’s eight victories and nine poles at the Hungaroring are unmatched but he has not been happy with the handling of his Silver Arrows all weekend and, after progressing to Q3 by the skin of his teeth, he finished more than six tenths behind Norris.
Sergio Perez’s future at Red Bull, and indeed the sport, is in serious jeopardy after he crashed out of Q1 for the second race in row.
Despite signing a two-year extension to stay at Red Bull in June, the 34-year-old is in the midst of a desperate run which has seen him score just 15 points in his last six appearances.
Team principal Christian Horner described his driver’s form as “unsustainable” at Silverstone and then hauled him into his kitchen following the British GP for a crisis summit.
But Perez’s shunt here at turn eight will raise further questions about his future with New Zealander and Red Bull reserve driver Liam Lawson waiting in the wings after he tested for the team at Silverstone last week.
Perez qualified 16th and, when the running restarted following an 11-minute delay, Russell became the day’s second high-profile early casualty.
As a damp track improved in the concluding minutes of Q1, Russell was unable to generate enough speed in his Mercedes to make it out of the first session – a fall from grace for the driver who captured pole at Silverstone.
“Sorry about this sessions, guys,” said Russell. “It’s on me.” He is due to line up from 17th on Sunday.
dunnes have runners with four stripes and 4 is more than 3 so they must be better….
@Liam Meade: well definitely make you go faster anyway. 33% faster
@Seaniecp: ahh, but only if they are go faster stripes Seanie….
@Seaniecp: or would addidas be 25% slower ?
@Liam Meade: yeah Striders man pee all over adidas any day
@Liam Meade: mine are faster because there Red.
O’Neill’s have had three stripes for donkeys years now!
@Darren Bates: only in Ireland though
@Noel Kelly: not in the north of Ireland tho… Just the 26.
You’ll see most northern county jerseys and gear for sale to the public has only 2 stripes
@Aidan Mitchell: I have multiple jerseys from northern counties with 3 stripes so that can’t be true
@Aidan Mitchell: where did you just pull that from?
@Aidan Mitchell: Any O’Neill’s jerseys sent out to Australia only have 2 stripes also
@John Black: Sorry not jerseys shorts or socks. But tracksuits, hoodie, zippys, tshirts, , polo’s…. Go to oneills.com and compare the 6 counties to the 26. No 3 stripes for sale in the 6.
And also look at club gear for international teams in USA, Canada, Australia. Mostly all 2 stripes. Ways around it tho..
@Darren Bates: oneills got away with it by claiming it was a white block with 2 stripes of colour on it istead of it being three stand alone white stripes. However they cant do it outside or roi
O’Neill’s can continue replicating their jerseys now
It seems a strange decision. I know 3 stripes is not that original. But that at the angle and going from short to long, there’s no mistaken them for anything else. It’s as recognizable as the Nike logo in my opinion.
@Thefallguy: It’s not really that logo in the photo that’s in question, rather the general practice of 3 parallel stripes denoting Adidas, eg running down a sleeve
@Squiddley Diddley: ahh I got you now. Cheers
My stripes were taken off me by the Mrs
Sweat shops for fakes are in overdrive everywhere now
I remember Kerry had a Adidas kit in 80′s classic for one year though as there was outrage about it
@Ossi Fritsche: gaa jerseys had a rule they had to be manufactured in Ireland, keeping jobs at home etc.
So kerry were effectively breaking the rules
@Aidan Mitchell: think because of that they had to be made under licence in Cork at the time
@Ossi Fritsche: especially when they washed it in a BENDIX !
@Valthebear: correct, so no sweatshop, no profit. Adidas lost money on them
Three strikes and you’re out!
Sergeants everywhere breathe a sigh of relief.
A Dream I Dreamt About Stripes
Can only get Bulmers jungle juice in Ireland …
Everywhere else it’s Bleedin Magners
@Rodney Williams: on account of there being a different, unrelated, cider company in the UK called Bulmers. The chances!
@RhinoDino: Not actually unrelated, the Bulmers UK once owned 50% of the Irish company and increased production. Later on they sold their share back to the original Irish company. As Magner was the founder they went with that name when launching in the UK and internationally.
Why don’t you show an image of the relevant logo???? Misleading article
@Arya: Whether or not one wishes to comment upon the weather, it is hardly acceptable to replicate the very mentality that you so negatively allude to.
@Vocal Outrage: I am not replicating it. It was the irony in the comment. It was really hilarious.
ALDIdas will be thrilled. What a F#*k EU to anyone with a reputable brand. That Rloex crown is not distinctive enough either, come to think of it. Not sure if I’m telling the time or sending a Hallmark card. FFS, Alfa Romeo are about the only ones safe from EU approved brand piracy. Being ruled by Belgium is awesome!
Those 3 Stripes are my Intellectual Property The have been on an old UNDERPANTS of Mine
3 Stripes and your out