P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Charles Leclerc expressed shock as a “horrible” qualifying session for the F1 Hungarian GP concluded with him claiming an unexpected pole position.
Charles Leclerc was shocked by the unexpected pole position he claimed after a “horrible” qualifying session at the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he outperformed the McLaren duo who had dominated the weekend until changes in track conditions disrupted their performance. Ferrari, which had been close to McLaren earlier in the weekend, saw a resurgence in competitiveness with Leclerc placing third in all practice sessions, despite initial setbacks in Q1 and Q2.
Leclerc’s exemplary final run in Q3 edged out Oscar Piastri by 0.026 seconds, surprising even Leclerc himself, who struggled to comprehend the sudden turn of events. The challenging conditions in Q3, coupled with Leclerc’s ability to adapt to them, made his pole position even more unexpected and satisfying.
While Leclerc acknowledged the difficulties posed by the changing wind direction on the Ferrari’s performance, he remains cautious about converting the pole into a race win due to the potential for rain in the upcoming race. With uncertainty about the weather and its impact on the race, Leclerc is unsure of his prospects but remains optimistic about his chances given the competitive edge Ferrari found in Q3.
