Lando Norris credited McLaren’s latest upgrades after securing pole position for the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, ending Mercedes’ run of ten consecutive poles this season. The British driver beat Lewis Hamilton by just 0.012 seconds to claim the 17th pole of his Formula 1 career and his first at the wheel of the MCL40.
Norris said he had felt comfortable with the car throughout the weekend and believed McLaren had successfully extracted the full potential of the new components introduced at the Hungaroring. However, he expects a demanding race against Ferrari and Mercedes, both of whom displayed highly competitive long-run pace.
Lando Norris ends Mercedes’ ten-race pole streak
It was Lando Norris and McLaren who finally ended Mercedes’ sequence of ten consecutive pole positions in 2026. At a circuit where Ferrari had been widely expected to perform strongly, the reigning constructors’ champions emerged at the front after introducing the first part of a technical development package.
The McLaren MCL40 upgrade package for Hungary included changes to the floor and wing. Those developments helped Norris return to the top of the qualifying order for the first time since the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The British driver secured the 17th pole position of his Formula 1 career by denying Lewis Hamilton in the closing moments of qualifying, crossing the line only 0.012 seconds faster than the Ferrari driver.
“Well, I do not care whether this is a circuit for real drivers or not: pole positions are pole positions, so I am happy that we are back on top,” Lando Norris said. “My laps were definitely very good. The Hungaroring is a circuit where you need confidence, a good rhythm and a good feeling with the car because there are no straights where you can relax and think things through again.”
“This is a track I have always enjoyed because you dance from one corner to the next. I have always performed well here, but that would not be possible without a good car.”
McLaren upgrades help Norris secure Hungarian GP pole
Norris repeated his 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix pole and highlighted how comfortable he had felt with the MCL40 from the beginning of the weekend.
“I have felt good with the car throughout the weekend. We managed to maximise the upgrade package we brought here,” he explained. “It is nice to see that it definitely helped us achieve a good result today. So, there are many positive aspects for the team.”
“I am also happy for myself because I felt very confident. I knew where and how to go faster on every single lap, and that is the best feeling you can have when you are in the car.”
The result confirmed the immediate value of McLaren’s developments, although Norris remained cautious about what qualifying might mean for the race. Overtaking is traditionally difficult at the Hungaroring, making the start, race pace and tyre management especially important.
Norris expects tough race against Ferrari and Mercedes
Starting from pole will give Norris a crucial strategic advantage, but he believes McLaren will face intense pressure from its closest rivals. Ferrari had been expected to benefit from the circuit’s characteristics, with the SF-26’s low-speed cornering strength potentially proving valuable around the Hungaroring.
Mercedes also demonstrated competitive long-run performance during practice, reinforcing the team’s belief that the W17 could challenge at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
“Well, we will need good pace and good tyre management after making a strong start, obviously,” Norris said. “We need to prepare well for the race because the competition will be very fierce. Mercedes and Ferrari showed very competitive long runs, and more generally they have been strong throughout the year.”
“We are still in no man’s land because this is the first time we have been up there. We will have to adapt somewhat to the situations that arise. I expect a very, very tough race, but not an impossible one.”
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