Alonso nearly takes pole on a magical day, Leclerc surprises the McLarens, and Sainz sinks in F1.

Fernando Alonso fell one step short of glory in qualifying for the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix. The Spaniard, who had been very fast throughout the session , will start fifth after finishing a tenth of a second behind Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver achieved Ferrari's first pole position of the season by beating Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. " I don't understand anything today, I don't understand Formula 1," exclaimed Leclerc at the end of the session. The madness and closeness was such that there were only 0.120 of a second between Leclerc, who will start from pole, and Lance Stroll, sixth.

Carlos Sainz got off to a very difficult start in qualifying in Hungary. The Williams drivers went first to avoid traffic and try to make it to Q2, but the Spanish driver locked his front tire at the circuit's first corner and had to take his chances of making the cut. On his second attempt, Sainz also finished behind Albon , finishing sixteenth, and in danger.

Fernando Alonso's start was different , placing sixth on his first time and first on his second attempt with fresh tires. The improved track propelled the Spaniard forward until Piastri snatched the top spot from him on a set of used tires. Alonso finished second in Q1, while Sainz, eighth, resolved his problems.

Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda was eliminated, finishing 0.024 seconds behind Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hülkenberg, and Alex Albon. Q2 got underway with the first drops of rain and Fernando Alonso took first place, although the Asturian used new tires and was one tenth slower than in Q1. Norris and Piastri, on new tires, stormed to the top two spots. Alonso and Stroll finished third and fourth, respectively.

Aston Martin, at a stellar level

With the final lap time remaining, both Ferraris were on the brink of disaster, with Charles Leclerc in tenth and Lewis Hamilton in eleventh. "Just think about one thing: getting back on track as soon as possible," the Monegasque said over the radio. The Aston Martins aborted Alonso's final attempt, saving a set of tires, and neither Ferrari could beat Alonso's or Stroll's time.

Antonelli, Bearman, Hamilton, Sainz, and Colapinto were eliminated . "Every time, every time..." the Englishman said over the radio. Alonso made it through to Q3 with astonishing ease, finishing fifth , and Stroll third. Along with McLaren, only Aston Martin managed to qualify both of its drivers for Q3. However, the FIA ruled out Kimi Antonelli's lap, so the Italian will start from fifteenth, while Carlos Sainz moved up to thirteenth.

Leclerc sparked euphoria at Ferrari

Alonso made it to Q3 with two sets of tires available. The Asturian placed first with a 1:16.024, seven-tenths slower than his Q2 time. Piastri, a tenth behind Norris, and Russell overtook him, and the Spaniard took fourth on the first attempt. Verstappen was fifth and complained about his Red Bull's lack of grip, while the track temperature dropped and the wind picked up.

Fernando Alonso placed second on his second attempt. "It was a good lap," the Spaniard stated over the radio. The big surprise, however, would come from Charles Leclerc, who took his first pole of the season with a 1:15.372, which allowed him to beat Piastri and Norris. Russell overtook Alonso, and the Asturian, one tenth off pole and just ahead of Stroll, will start fifth this Sunday.