Hungary: Hamilton loses P2 after qualifying incident, Norris takes pole

By Ethan Gagnon — 25 July 2026 — 3 min read

Lewis Hamilton has received a three-place grid penalty for the Hungarian Grand Prix after an incident during qualifying. Hamilton, who initially qualified in second position, was penalized for impeding Oscar Piastri. This penalty means Hamilton will now start the race from fifth on the grid.

The incident occurred as the top 10 drivers were preparing for their final laps in qualifying. Hamilton had provisionally secured the top spot before Lando Norris ultimately claimed pole position for the first time this season, relegating Hamilton to second. However, an investigation was launched into Hamilton’s actions during the session.

Qualifying Incident Details

The stewards’ review found that Hamilton unnecessarily impeded Piastri. Piastri was on a push lap, attempting to improve his time, when Hamilton, traveling at a significantly reduced speed, was on the racing line at the approach to Turn 1. Hamilton stated he was unaware of Piastri’s approach, explaining he had just completed a fast lap and did not receive a radio message from his team regarding the approaching car until it was already close. He also mentioned that Piastri’s car was not visible in his mirrors due to his car’s positioning on the track.

Piastri was forced to take evasive action, running wide and aborting his lap, which resulted in him settling for P5. The stewards, after reviewing video, telemetry, team radio, and in-car video evidence, determined that Hamilton’s actions constituted an impediment. In accordance with the FIA F1 Regulations and established penalty guidelines, a three-place grid penalty was imposed on Hamilton.

Hamilton himself acknowledged the situation after qualifying, stating, “I think my mind is just elsewhere right this second, because once I’d finished my lap, I don’t know if I got in the way of someone, so I’m just trying to run that through my mind, because I wasn’t aware anyone was coming.” He later added, “I was told literally when he was at the apex behind me, so I had no idea he was coming. I was the first out, so I thought everyone had finished their lap.”

Grid Changes and Other Penalties

The penalty to Hamilton promoted Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli, and Piastri by one position each on the grid. Leclerc will now start second, with Piastri in third. Antonelli, who originally qualified fourth, also received a three-place grid penalty for not slowing sufficiently under single yellow flags following a spin by Max Verstappen at the final corner. This separate incident meant Antonelli will now start seventh, behind Mercedes’ George Russell.

Norris expressed his satisfaction with securing pole position, particularly at a track where it is highly desired. He noted that his laps in Q3 were not his best, making the pole a pleasant surprise. Hamilton, on the other hand, was critical of his final run, stating he was a second slower than his first attempt and was unhappy about being sent out first. He felt the car had the potential for pole, but he “didn’t deliver.”

Verstappen’s spin affected both Antonelli and Russell, who were forced to slow down. While Antonelli did lift, the stewards deemed it insufficient. Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, made a breakthrough by progressing out of the first session for the first time this season with their updated car. Alonso will start 16th, expressing optimism about the team’s direction. The Hungaroring track surface was noted to be breaking up, especially in the final two corners, which drivers found challenging for grip levels. Russell also experienced a water leak during his final run, forcing him to pull over after crossing the line to avoid engine damage.

The final grid for the race after penalties is as follows: