Mercedes’ run of pole positions had to end eventually – though it was perhaps expected that Ferrari would be the ones to end it. Instead, McLaren’s first Grand Prix front row start of the season is also their first pole position. Their sizeable upgrade this weekend made itself felt with Lando Norris topping the timesheets in FP3 and Qualifying.
Conventional wisdom will insist track position dominates at the Hungaroring – but the stats don’t bear that out. We haven’t had a winner from pole since 2020, and only three in the last decade.