Related items

• Verstappen feels Red Bull playing catch-up as McLaren secure Hungary lock-out

  Max Verstappen believes Red Bull are currently playing catch-up to McLaren, who sealed a lock-out in qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix on Saturday.

  Lando Norris clinched his third career pole at the Hungaroring, beating team-mate Oscar Piastri by 0.022 seconds with Verstappen 0.046 back in third.

  Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, meanwhile, crashed out in Q1 and will start the race 16th on the grid, casting further doubt on his future with the team.

  Red Bull started the 2024 season with three one-twos in the first four races, while Verstappen came out on top on seven of his first 10 outings.

  However, they have seen their sizeable advantage whittled down, with both McLaren and Mercedes pushing hard in recent races.

  Speaking after Saturday's final qualifying session, Verstappen said: "I tried, the whole weekend we have been a little bit behind, and I think that was also the case in qualifying.

  "I tried to make it as close as possible but unfortunately just not enough, a bit difficult to pinpoint why. I would have liked a bit more grip but it's not there at the moment."

  Verstappen finished second at the British Grand Prix last time out, having been fifth in Austria one week earlier – the first time he has failed to win at two straight races all year.

  "I love competition but I like being on top of the competition," the three-time world champion added. 

  "At the moment, I feel like we are chasing and having a few more difficult weekends, I don't back out of a fight but it's just a tricky situation I guess.

  "The last few races, especially the McLaren has been really good in the race, even compared to qualifying. 

  "Today was a lot colder than expected I guess with the clouds and the rain, tomorrow is going to be quite a different day and I just hope that will help us."

• Russell bemoans qualifying 'disaster' at Hungarian Grand Prix

  George Russell was left to rue "a fundamental error" that led to a "disaster" in Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying.

  The Mercedes driver will start Sunday's race towards the back of the grid in 17th place after suffering a shock exit in Q1 on a dramatic day of qualifying at Hungaroring.

  Russell did so as a result of his team failing to provide him with enough fuel in the wet-dry conditions.

  "There are two factors," he told Sky Sports. "The first was I didn't do a good enough job at the beginning. The second was we didn't have enough fuel to complete the session.

  "It was a disaster from both aspects. We should have got through comfortably. Not having enough fuel is a fundamental error from the team."

  There were better fortunes for Oscar Piastri, who finished in second place and just 0.022 seconds behind team-mate Lando Norris, ensuring McLaren's first lock-out in qualifying since the 2012 British Grand Prix.

   "It's cool to be here, especially when you get a result like this," he said. "Very happy, of course, but I missed out by two-hundredths, so you think of all the little things you could've done better.

  "We had a bit of a tricky day on my side yesterday, but it's nice to bounce back this morning and obviously this afternoon in [qualifying].

  "It wasn't easy - a lot of decisions on the fly - but to end up with both cars on the front row is an amazing result."

• McLaren in best place for Hungarian Grand Prix win, says Norris

  Lando Norris is expecting to secure a second-ever Formula One victory after claiming his third career pole at the Hungaroring on Saturday. 

  Norris edged out team-mate Oscar Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen as McLaren claimed their first lock-out in qualifying since the British Grand Prix in 2012. 

  McLaren now have the opportunity to reach 10 or more podiums for the first time since 2012 (13), with Norris also presented the chance to equal Denny Hulme as the driver with the eighth most podiums in the history of the British team.

  Norris beat Piastri to pole position by 0.022 seconds with Verstappen 0.046 back in a session that featured two red flags and changing weather conditions. 

  Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton will have to achieve a record 200th podium from fifth place, while Ferrari duo Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc will start fourth and sixth respectively. 

  “I am very very happy, not an easy qualifying, different conditions, always ending up on top, it’s the best part of it all," Norris said.

  “I’m happy especially for the team, a one-two is even better to see so congrats to the team.

  “We are in the best position for whatever the conditions throw at us, I’m looking forward to it. Two cars on the front row, we can control it from there so as long as we stay where we are, we will be happy.

  “I’m expecting to [do well], if I don’t it’s not been a good day. The car is doing well, I feel like I’m driving well so it’s obvious what the aim is for tomorrow."

  Aston Martin duo Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll finished seventh and eighth respectively, with RB's Daniel Ricciardo finishing a place behind. 

  Yuki Tsunoda completed the top 10 but sustained a heavy crash in the final qualifying session.

  Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez endured another difficult time out on track, crashing out in the first qualifying session and will start 16th on the grid. 

  George Russell will also start towards the back of the grid after he and the Mercedes team were unable to recover from a poor opening wet-dry session. 

  Top 10

  1. Lando Norris (McLaren)

  2. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

  3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

  4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

  5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

  6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

  7.  Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

  8.  Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

  9.  Daniel Ricciardo (RB) 

  10. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)