In Pictures: Hungary 2025
The Hungarian Grand Prix first appeared on the Formula 1 World Championship calendar in 1986, marking the sport’s first venture behind the “Iron Curtain.” Since then, it has been a permanent fixture, even through the 2020 Covid season.
This year’s race weekend carried extra significance as Formula 1 celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Hungarian Grand Prix. Traditionally the final stop before the summer break, the Hungaroring delivered one last round of high-speed action before teams paused for a mid-season reset.
The circuit itself is in the midst of a major transformation. After a complete paddock refurbishment last year, 2025 saw extensive work on the pit lane, pit complex, and main grandstand. The grid area and pit lane were resurfaced using 860 tons of a specially designed bitumen mix with a higher softening point, laid to minimize undulations and provide a more consistent surface for the drivers.
FRIDAY
McLaren wasted no time asserting itself during the Hungarian Grand Prix weekend. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in FP1 and FP2 respectively, becoming the only drivers to dip under the 1:16 mark. Their best laps in the second session were 1:15.624 and 1:15.915.
Ferrari emerged as the second-strongest team, with Charles Leclerc third at 1:16.023 and Lewis Hamilton sixth at 1:16.329. Splitting the Ferrari pair in FP2 were the Aston Martins, Lance Stroll in fourth with a 1:16.119 and Fernando Alonso fifth at 1:16.233. In FP1, Felipe Drugovich filled in for Alonso.
SATURDAY
Qualifying appeared set for another McLaren front-row lockout, but Charles Leclerc delivered something special on his final lap in Q3, claiming Ferrari’s first pole position of the season and the team’s 254th overall. For Leclerc, it was his 27th career pole, his first at the Hungaroring, and his first-ever front-row start at this track.
The top four in Q3 were covered by just 0.051 seconds, with Leclerc’s 1:15.372 leading Oscar Piastri’s 1:15.398, Lando Norris’s 1:15.413, and George Russell’s 1:15.425. Isack Hadjar rounded out the top ten for Racing Bulls with a 1:15.915, the top ten separated by just 0.543 seconds, making it the closest qualifying in Formula 1 history!
““I’m really happy with my lap and it’s probably the most unexpected pole position of my career.””
SUNDAY
Race day belonged to McLaren. The team sealed another commanding one-two finish, its fourth in a row, sixth of the season, and 56th overall. Lando Norris took the checkered flag, giving McLaren its 200th Grand Prix victory, placing it second only to Ferrari’s 248 on the all-time winners list.
Completing an all-anglophone podium in the 40th running of the Hungarian Grand Prix was Mercedes driver George Russell, third behind Oscar Piastri. It was Russell’s sixth podium of the season and the 21st of his Formula 1 career.
The 40th running of the Hungarian Grand Prix delivered a mix of history and milestones, McLaren’s 200th win, Leclerc’s return to pole, and a podium featuring three drivers at the top of their game. Four decades on, the Hungaroring continues to prove why it’s a fixture that belongs on the Formula 1 calendar.
NEXT STOP: ZANDVOORT 🇳🇱
Excerpts and media courtesy of Pirelli S.p.A. and official Formula 1 Team Press Offices. All images are credited to their respective copyright holders and used for editorial purposes only.
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