Lewis Hamilton admitted he was “useless” after qualifying 12th for the Hungarian Grand Prix, while teammate Charles Leclerc took pole position. The Ferrari driver’s first grand prix pole of the year came despite struggling with pace all weekend.
Leclerc outpaced Hamilton by 0.247 seconds in the second part of qualifying, knocking him out and securing sixth fastest spot. This result puts Leclerc 12-5 up on Hamilton in their qualifying head-to-head this season.
Ferrari’s new rear suspension, introduced last race, helped boost Leclerc’s confidence and allowed him to push for a record-breaking pole. The upgrade enabled him to play with the car’s limits more predictably than before, giving him an edge over his rivals.
Hamilton struggled against George Russell in qualifying last season but has been closer to Leclerc since the seventh race of the year. However, he still congratulated Leclerc on his impressive pole, acknowledging Ferrari’s car’s potential.
The real challenge lies ahead for Leclerc as McLaren’s strong race pace may give them an edge in Sunday’s race. Norris and Piastri, who lead the championship, remain confident they can win from second place despite the unpredictable track conditions.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/articles/cx2qjn181rdo