After McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri dominated the free practice sessions ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, it was a surprisingly fast Charles Leclerc who claimed the best time on Saturday. The Monegasque outpaced the papayas, giving Ferrari its first pole position of the year. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella explained that Norris and Piastri, caught off guard by changing weather conditions, drove quite conservatively.
Leclerc could hardly believe that he had beaten both McLaren drivers. The Ferrari driver went two-tenths under Oscar Piastri’s time, securing the first starting spot in Budapest. McLaren, with Piastri and Norris in P2 and P3 respectively still confident of a good outcome, points to the gusts of wind that plagued the Hungarian circuit. These are believed to have contributed to the team’s sudden drop in performance.
“Based on the performances in the free practice sessions and in Q1 and Q2, we expected to secure the first starting row,” Stella told Sky Sports. “But the conditions today were very strange – we were extremely sensitive to the wind. Q3 felt completely different from the previous sessions, and frankly, I think we paid the price for that.”
Influenced by the Wind
“Our drivers were a bit more cautious, as you never know exactly how much grip there is in a corner,” he added. “As a result, we were four-tenths slower than in Q2, while Charles Leclerc actually sped up. A well-deserved pole for him – well done to Charles and well done to Ferrari,” the Italian complimented his former employer. Stella, an engineer through and through, explained how the changing wind affected McLaren’s performance.
“Formula 1 cars are extremely aerodynamic, so headwind, tailwind, or crosswind have a huge impact on the grip in a corner,” he elaborated. “These conditions are also invisible to the drivers – they can provide some feedback, but especially in Q3, the wind was extremely variable. It then comes down to how much risk you dare to take, and how well you can adapt to the whims of the wind. That being said, we still have a strong starting position,” Stella concluded. “We may have a bit more work than hoped for tomorrow, but we are looking forward to a good race.”
