Lewis Hamilton's challenging season continued at the Hungarian Grand Prix, where he qualified a disappointing 12th, while his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc clinched a surprising pole position. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, openly criticized his performance, stating, "I drove terribly. It is what it is." He added, "I'm just useless," attributing his lack of pace solely to his own performance rather than the car.

Leclerc, who had previously struggled at the Hungaroring, delivered a stunning lap in the final qualifying session to secure Ferrari's first pole of the year. He acknowledged the unexpected nature of his achievement, saying, "It is probably the most surprising pole position I have ever done, so I'm very happy." The Monegasque driver credited recent car upgrades, including a new rear suspension introduced at the Belgian Grand Prix, for improving the car's predictability and allowing him to push harder in qualifying.

McLaren, which had dominated practice sessions, was caught off guard by a sudden change in weather conditions during qualifying. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, who had been strong contenders for pole, ended up second and third, respectively. Piastri described the result as "bizarre and somewhat frustrating" but remained confident in his race pace.

With rain forecast for race day, the stage is set for an unpredictable and thrilling Hungarian Grand Prix. Leclerc, starting from pole, will aim to convert his qualifying success into a race victory, while Hamilton will look to recover from his poor starting position and salvage points in the championship battle.

Key Highlights:

• Leclerc secures Ferrari's first pole of the year at the Hungaroring.
• Hamilton qualifies 12th, openly critical of his performance.
• McLaren's Piastri and Norris face challenges due to changing weather conditions.
• Rain expected on race day, adding an element of unpredictability to the event.