F1 Hungarian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen misses pole position, can he pip Lando Norris and clinch victory?

Dutch racer Max Verstappen is far from replicating the absolute dominance he held in the racing season of 2023. He’s already lost 4 of the 12 races so far, which is already more than the defeats he conceded last year. In 2023, the Drivers’ Champion had 19 of the 22 races of the season, many of which he did not start at pole position.

Verstappen is now headed into the 13th race of the season, at position 3 in the second row on the grid, only 0.0460 seconds behind Lando Norris who is in pole position. The first row will, in fact, ensure an all McLaren start to the Hungarian Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri joining his teammate. Lewis Hamilton, who won the British Grand Prix two weeks ago and holds the record for the most wins in Hungary is in row 3 for the race that begins at 6 pm (IST) on July 21. The last time Verstappen was in pole in Hungary, Hamilton went on to win the race, which was reversed in the 2023 season.

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In fact, Verstappen won the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2022 and 2023 when not at the front of the grid at the start. George Russell was in pole position in 2022. Currently Norris is only 84 points behind Verstappen and with 12 races remaining, notching up a few 25 pointers could just swing the Drivers’ Championship in his favour.

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Although Red Bull is still leading the Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari, which is trailing by 71 points, has both its drivers – Carlos Sainz (4) and Charles Leclerc (6) - in the top 10 to start the race, while Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez will be at the tail end at 16. Watch the Hungarian Grand Prix on July 21 at 6.30 pm with FanCode, the official streaming partner in India.