2025 Hungarian Grand Prix: F1 Race, Qualifying & Winners

Round 14 of the 2025 F1 season headed to the Hungaroring for the Formula 1 Lenovo Hungarian Grand Prix 2025.

Ben

By Ben Bush
Updated on August 4, 2025

Reviewed and checked by Lee Parker

Lando Norris 2025 Hungarian GP Winner
Lando Norris (car no.4) takes the win at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix with McLaren // Image: McLaren Media

Formula 1 rolled into Budapest for the Hungarian Grand Prix, the 14th round of the 2025 F1 World Championship—and the final stop before the paddock breathes out for its much-needed summer break. After the chaos and unpredictability of the previous Sprint weekend at Spa, the championship now reset to a more familiar rhythm with the return of the traditional Grand Prix format. The Hungaroring, a technical and twisting circuit that punishes lapses in concentration and rewards finesse, set the stage for a crucial mid-season showdown.

For McLaren, all eyes were on a potential continuation of their red-hot form. The Woking outfit had proven once again with a front-row lockout and 1-2 finish that they were clear favourites in Hungary. But memories run deep at this venue—none more so than for Oscar Piastri, who claimed a breakout maiden win here in the 2024 race. While McLaren may be overwhelming favourites, the Hungarian Grand Prix has a long history of unexpected twists.

Race Guide

Season: 2025 F1 World Championship
Race weekend:
1 August 20253 August 2025
Race date: Sunday, 3 August 2025
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Hungaroring
Laps: 70
Circuit length: 4.381km
2024 winner: Oscar Piastri

Pole position
DriverCharles LeclercFerrari
Time1:15.372
Fastest lap
DriverGeorge RussellMercedes
Time1:19.409 on lap 45
Podium
FirstLando NorrisMcLaren
SecondOscar PiastriMcLaren
ThirdGeorge RussellMercedes

The Hungaroring has been a mainstay on the Formula 1 calendar since 1986, carving out a unique identity as one of the sport’s most technically demanding circuits. Nestled just outside Budapest, this 4.381 km track is famed for its tight, twisty layout that offers little margin for error and even less opportunity for overtaking—earning it the nickname ‘Monaco without the barriers.’ Despite its reputation, the Hungarian Grand Prix has delivered its fair share of unforgettable moments, from Michael Schumacher and his legendary three-stop strategy win in 1998 to Jenson Button taking his first-ever F1 victory in a rain-hit 2006 race. While Esteban Ocon and his shock win in 2021 still stands as one of the most popular underdog triumphs of the hybrid era.

On track, Turn 1 is the most obvious overtaking opportunity—particularly at race start or after DRS activation—but the fight often extends through Turn 2 and continues uphill to the fast, blind Turn 4. The narrow middle sector demands high levels of mechanical grip and tyre management, while the final corners test patience and balance.

With limited straights and relentless corner sequences, drivers liken the experience to threading a needle—lap after lap. It’s a circuit that rewards rhythm and punishes excess, often turning small mistakes into race-defining setbacks. As such, Hungary has become a test of skill, car setup, and strategy.

Weekend schedule

DateSessionLocal Time
1 August 2025Free Practice 1 (FP1)1:30 pm – 2:30 pm local time
1 August 2025Free Practice 2 (FP2)5:00 pm – 6:00 pm local time
2 August 2025Free Practice 3 (FP3)12:30 pm – 1:30 pm local time
2 August 2025Qualifying4:00 pm – 5:00 pm local time
3 August 2025Race3:00 pm local time

In Saturday qualifying, Charles Leclerc snatched pole position for the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix with a 1:15.372 in a tense Q3 shootout, edging out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris by mere hundredths in tricky, wind-affected conditions. George Russell took fourth for Mercedes, while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll locked out the third row. Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto impressed in P7, outqualifying a struggling Max Verstappen, who could only manage eighth. Racing Bulls locked out row five, while Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q2 and started 12th.

Come Sunday’s race, Lando Norris claimed a strategic victory at the, defeating McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.698s after a late-race duel, cutting Piastri’s championship lead to nine points to secure McLaren their 56th 1-2 finish and their 200th Grand Prix win. George Russell secured third for Mercedes, while polesitter Charles Leclerc slipped to fourth after fading on a two-stop strategy and receiving a time penalty (that didn’t affect his finishing position).

Formula One History Recommends

Championship background

As the Championship headed toward its summer break, the title race was taking on a sharply defined shape, led, for now, by a resurgent Oscar Piastri. The McLaren driver delivered a masterclass in changeable conditions at Spa, converting poise and precision into a crucial victory that extended his lead over teammate Lando Norris to 16 points, who had gone into the race with two wins on the bounce. What was once a tight, multi-car battle was fast becoming a fierce intra-team duel, with Norris and Piastri now emerging as the clear front-runners for the 2025 crown.

Twelve months ago in Hungary, the seeds of that rivalry were planted when Norris stepped aside to allow Piastri to seal his maiden Grand Prix win after a controversial team strategy call. That decision may have shown unity then—but in 2025, the stakes were far higher.

Max Verstappen finished fourth in Belgium, behind a quietly consistent Charles Leclerc, hinting at a shifting of the guard and the fight to wear driver number 1 on the car for 2026. While the reigning world champion remained mathematically in contention, Red Bull and his grip on the championship appeared looser than it had been in years, especially with Leclerc racking up his fifth podium of the season. Meanwhile, Leclerc’s teammate Lewis Hamilton endured a dismal weekend at Spa with Sprint and Race qualifying exits. Still, the seven-time champion returned to one of his happiest hunting grounds: the Hungaroring, where he held a record eight wins before the 2025 race. Whether he can mount a comeback or simply play spoiler in the McLaren civil war remained to be seen—but one thing was clear: the 2025 title fight continued to be very much alive, and far from decided.

Race entries

The lineup of drivers and teams remained the same as the 2025 season’s entry list, apart from:

  • A driver swap at the sister teams, Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls, where Yuki Tsunoda moved up to the parent Red Bull team and Liam Lawson headed in the opposite direction back to Racing Bulls, for round three at the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix.
  • Jack Doohan stepping out of the race seat at Alpine (post Miami), beginning with the following round, the 2025 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. The team confirmed that former Williams and Alpine reserve driver, Franco Colapinto, would take his place alongside number one driver, Pierre Gasly.
  • In addition, Alpine reserve driver Paul Aron continued his surprise mid-season loan spell with Sauber. After making his Formula 1 weekend debut during FP1 at the 2025 British Grand Prix, the highly rated Estonian driver got another shot behind the wheel—this time during FP1 at the Hungaroring, taking over from Nico Hülkenberg for the session.
  • Aston Martin announced on the Friday morning that Fernando Alonso would sit out Friday’s opening practice session, FP1, due to a muscular injury in his back. Aston Martin’s test and reserve driver, former F2 champion Felipe Drugovich, was called up to take Alonso’s spot.

Aside from these changes, all the drivers from the start of the season took to the track during FP1, FP2, FP3, Qualifying, and the Grand Prix.

Tyre choices

Pirelli opted for the same trio of slick compounds as the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix: the C3 (Hard), C4 (Medium), and C5 (Soft). While these were previously the softest tyres in the range, the introduction of the ultra-aggressive C6 compound in 2025 shifted that hierarchy. Still, the C6 remained far too soft for a circuit like the Hungaroring. Although the track doesn’t impose especially high loads in absolute terms, its short lap length means the tyres are worked hard and often, with cumulative energy build-up becoming a key factor over a whole race stint.

Thermal degradation is typically the name of the game in Hungary, with high ambient temperatures and a dark, heat-retaining tarmac surface making life particularly tough for tyre management. In 2024, the Hungaroring recorded the highest track temperature of the season—an asphalt-melting 58.6°C—which pushed teams to the edge of their thermal windows. Teams would expect similar conditions for 2025, where heat cycling and surface graining could become decisive variables.

2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Tyre Compounds
2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Tyre Compounds

FIND OUT MORE

Free Practice

In FP1, Lando Norris led a dominant McLaren one-two, edging teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.019s, with Charles Leclerc third for Ferrari. The session saw notable stand-in appearances, as Felipe Drugovich replaced an injured Fernando Alonso at Aston Martin, while Sauber’s Paul Aron made his second rookie outing but was forced to stop early with a technical issue that triggered a Virtual Safety Car.

During FP2, Lando Norris continued McLaren’s dominance by topping the session with a 1:15.624, leading teammate Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen endured a frustrating session plagued by handling issues and a strange Turn 3 moment where he appeared to throw a towel from the cockpit, drawing the attention of the stewards. Fernando Alonso returned to action after missing FP1 with a back injury, finishing an encouraging fifth behind teammate Lance Stroll.

In FP3, Oscar Piastri led a McLaren 1–2 in the final practice session, clocking a 1:14.916 to finish just 0.032s ahead of Lando Norris, with Charles Leclerc third despite an off at Turn 12. The hour saw slow early running before Qualifying simulations ramped up mid-session, while Max Verstappen continued to battle with his car’s balance and ended up 12th. Lewis Hamilton took fourth ahead of Kimi Antonelli and a returning Fernando Alonso, as McLaren went top again heading into the all-important Qualifying session.

Full Free Practice Reports

Free Practice 1 Classification

FP1 of the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix was held on 1 August 2025 from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm local time.

POS.NO.DRIVERTEAMTIME / GAPLAPS
14Lando NorrisMcLaren1:16.05225
281Oscar PiastriMcLaren+0.019s29
316Charles LeclercFerrari+0.217s27
46Isack HadjarRacing Bulls+0.629s30
544Lewis HamiltonFerrari+0.682s27
687Oliver BearmanHaas+0.826s25
712Kimi AntonelliMercedes+0.828s26
863George RussellMercedes+0.873s25
91Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing+0.888s24
1018Lance StrollAston Martin+0.906s24
1123Alexander AlbonWilliams+0.932s27
1231Esteban OconHaas+0.952s25
1310Pierre GaslyAlpine+1.071s26
1430Liam LawsonRacing Bulls+1.132s28
1555Carlos SainzWilliams+1.143s30
1634Felipe DrugovichAston Martin+1.217s26
1722Yuki TsunodaRed Bull Racing+1.341s26
1843Franco ColapintoAlpine+1.412s28
195Gabriel BortoletoKick Sauber+1.600s17
2097Paul AronKick Sauber+3.736s9

Free Practice 2 Classification

FP2 of the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix was held on 1 August 2025 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm local time.

POS.NO.DRIVERTEAMTIME / GAPLAPS
14Lando NorrisMcLaren1:15.62427
281Oscar PiastriMcLaren+0.291s30
316Charles LeclercFerrari+0.399s28
418Lance StrollAston Martin+0.495s28
514Fernando AlonsoAston Martin+0.609s25
644Lewis HamiltonFerrari+0.705s28
763George RussellMercedes+0.793s27
86Isack HadjarRacing Bulls+0.803s30
922Yuki TsunodaRed Bull Racing+0.861s30
1012Kimi AntonelliMercedes+0.896s26
1187Oliver BearmanHaas+0.943s27
1227Nico HulkenbergKick Sauber+1.056s31
1331Esteban OconHaas+1.080s29
141Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing+1.167s25
1530Liam LawsonRacing Bulls+1.188s29
1655Carlos SainzWilliams+1.250s32
175Gabriel BortoletoKick Sauber+1.322s29
1823Alexander AlbonWilliams+1.397s30
1910Pierre GaslyAlpine+1.419s25
2043Franco ColapintoAlpine+1.535s29

Free Practice 3 Classification

FP3 of the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix was held on 2 August 2025 from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm local time.

POS.NO.DRIVERTEAMTIME / GAPLAPS
181Oscar PiastriMcLaren1:14.91616
24Lando NorrisMcLaren+0.032s19
316Charles LeclercFerrari+0.399s16
444Lewis HamiltonFerrari+0.768s17
512Kimi AntonelliMercedes+0.829s17
614Fernando AlonsoAston Martin+0.878s18
718Lance StrollAston Martin+0.912s21
863George RussellMercedes+0.924s16
95Gabriel BortoletoKick Sauber+1.062s18
1027Nico HulkenbergKick Sauber+1.109s20
1187Oliver BearmanHaas+1.211s16
121Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing+1.246s18
1343Franco ColapintoAlpine+1.331s20
1430Liam LawsonRacing Bulls+1.455s20
1555Carlos SainzWilliams+1.526s18
1623Alexander AlbonWilliams+1.614s19
1731Esteban OconHaas+1.615s17
1810Pierre GaslyAlpine+1.654s22
1922Yuki TsunodaRed Bull Racing+1.962s19
206Isack HadjarRacing Bulls+2.040s17

Qualifying

Charles Leclerc delivered a gripping performance in the final moments of Qualifying to snatch pole position for the Hungarian Grand Prix, edging McLaren duo Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in a dramatic finish. With drops of rain in Q2 and increasingly tricky track conditions in Q3, Leclerc produced a 1:15.372 on his last flying lap—just 0.026s ahead of Piastri and 0.041s clear of Norris. George Russell impressed in fourth for Mercedes, while Aston Martin converted their strong practice pace into results with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll locking out row three. Rising star Gabriel Bortoleto continued his standout weekend by putting his Kick Sauber in seventh, ahead of an underwhelming Max Verstappen, who struggled for grip and balance en route to eighth.

Further down the order, both Racing Bulls made Q3, with Liam Lawson and rookie Isack Hadjar securing ninth and tenth respectively. Lewis Hamilton suffered another early exit, dropping out in Q2 and qualifying 12th behind Haas’ Ollie Bearman and ahead of Carlos Sainz. Kimi Antonelli was also denied a top-10 run after a track limits violation erased a crucial lap, relegating him to 15th. Yuki Tsunoda fell at the first hurdle in Q1, joined by Alpine and Haas drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, while Nico Hülkenberg and Alex Albon rounded out the grid after failing to improve late on.

Full Qualifying Report

Qualifying Classification

Qualifying for the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix was held on 2 August 2025 from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm local time.

POS.NO.DRIVERTEAMQ1Q2Q3LAPS
116Charles LeclercFerrari1:15.5821:15.4551:15.37218
281Oscar PiastriMcLaren1:15.2111:14.9411:15.39818
34Lando NorrisMcLaren1:15.5231:14.8901:15.41318
463George RussellMercedes1:15.6271:15.2011:15.42515
514Fernando AlonsoAston Martin1:15.2811:15.3951:15.48115
618Lance StrollAston Martin1:15.6731:15.1291:15.49818
75Gabriel BortoletoKick Sauber1:15.5861:15.6871:15.72518
81Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing1:15.7361:15.5471:15.72818
930Liam LawsonRacing Bulls1:15.8491:15.6301:15.82118
106Isack HadjarRacing Bulls1:15.5161:15.4691:15.91515
1187Oliver BearmanHaas1:15.7501:15.69412
1244Lewis HamiltonFerrari1:15.7331:15.70212
1355Carlos SainzWilliams1:15.6521:15.78115
1443Franco ColapintoAlpine1:15.8751:16.15912
1512Kimi AntonelliMercedes1:15.7821:16.3869
1622Yuki TsunodaRed Bull Racing1:15.8996
1710Pierre GaslyAlpine1:15.9666
1831Esteban OconHaas1:16.0236
1927Nico HulkenbergKick Sauber1:16.0816
2023Alexander AlbonWilliams1:16.2239

2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Starting Grid

The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Qualifying session.

POS.NO.DRIVERTEAMTIME
116Charles LeclercFerrari1:15.372
281Oscar PiastriMcLaren1:15.398
34Lando NorrisMcLaren1:15.413
463George RussellMercedes1:15.425
514Fernando AlonsoAston Martin1:15.481
618Lance StrollAston Martin1:15.498
75Gabriel BortoletoKick Sauber1:15.725
81Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing1:15.728
930Liam LawsonRacing Bulls1:15.821
106Isack HadjarRacing Bulls1:15.915
1187Oliver BearmanHaas1:15.694
1244Lewis HamiltonFerrari1:15.702
1355Carlos SainzWilliams1:15.781
1443Franco ColapintoAlpine1:16.159
1512Kimi AntonelliMercedes1:16.386
1610Pierre GaslyAlpine1:15.966
1731Esteban OconHaas1:16.023
1827Nico HulkenbergKick Sauber1:16.081
1923Alexander AlbonWilliams1:16.223
2022Yuki Tsunoda*Red Bull Racing1:15.899
*Yuki Tsunoda was required to start from the pit lane after the car was modified under Parc Ferme conditions and additional power unit elements were used.

What happened in the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix?

Lando Norris emerged victorious in a tense and strategic Hungarian Grand Prix, holding off a late-race charge from McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to claim his fifth win of the season.

Starting third on the grid, Norris executed a bold one-stop strategy to perfection, emerging ahead of his two-stopping rivals in the closing stages. Polesitter Charles Leclerc initially led comfortably and maintained position through the first round of pit stops despite Piastri’s undercut attempt, but as strategy calls diverged, Norris found himself in prime position to strike.

With Leclerc fading on worn tyres and Piastri closing fast on fresher rubber, the final laps became a tense intra-team duel between the McLaren drivers. Piastri threw everything at Norris but couldn’t find a way through, finishing just 0.698s behind at the chequered flag. The result tightened the title race heading into the summer break, with Piastri’s championship lead reduced to just nine points. George Russell delivered a strong drive to finish third for Mercedes after overtaking a struggling Leclerc, who also picked up a five-second penalty for erratic defending and dropped to fourth.

Behind the podium battle, Fernando Alonso brought home a solid fifth for Aston Martin, with rookie Gabriel Bortoleto continuing to impress in sixth for Kick Sauber, splitting the Aston pair with Lance Stroll in seventh.

Liam Lawson claimed P8 for Racing Bulls, while Max Verstappen endured a difficult afternoon to finish ninth, ending the race under investigation for a fight with Lewis Hamilton that pushed the Ferrari driver off track. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli rounded out the points in P10, while Hamilton had to settle for 12th behind Isack Hadjar.

The midfield scrap saw Nico Hülkenberg, Carlos Sainz, and Alex Albon complete the top 15, with Esteban Ocon, Yuki Tsunoda, and the Alpine pair of Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly finishing further back. Gasly was handed a 10-second penalty for contact with Sainz, while Haas’ Ollie Bearman retired with damage, marking the only DNF of the race.

2025 Hungarian Grand Prix race results

The 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Race was held on 3 August 2025 at 3:00 pm local time.

POS.NO.DRIVERTEAMLAPSTIME / RETIREDPTS.
14Lando NorrisMcLaren7001:35:2125
281Oscar PiastriMcLaren70+0.698s18
363George RussellMercedes70+21.916s15
416Charles LeclercFerrari70+42.560s12
514Fernando AlonsoAston Martin70+59.040s10
65Gabriel BortoletoKick Sauber70+66.169s8
718Lance StrollAston Martin70+68.174s6
830Liam LawsonRacing Bulls70+69.451s4
91Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing70+72.645s2
1012Kimi AntonelliMercedes69+1 lap1
116Isack HadjarRacing Bulls69+1 lap0
1244Lewis HamiltonFerrari69+1 lap0
1327Nico HulkenbergKick Sauber69+1 lap0
1455Carlos SainzWilliams69+1 lap0
1523Alexander AlbonWilliams69+1 lap0
1631Esteban OconHaas69+1 lap0
1722Yuki TsunodaRed Bull Racing69+1 lap0
1843Franco ColapintoAlpine69+1 lap0
1910Pierre GaslyAlpine69+1 lap0
NC87Oliver BearmanHaas48DNF0
Note – Gasly received a 10-second time penalty for causing a collision. Leclerc received a five-second time penalty for driving erratically.

2025 Hungarian Grand Prix Fastest Laps

POS.NO.DRIVERTEAMLAPTIME OF DAYTIMEAVG. SPEED
163George RussellMercedes4516:05:151:19.409192.206
281Oscar PiastriMcLaren5616:19:461:19.412192.918
31Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing5016:12:431:19.576190.523
455Carlos SainzWilliams5416:17:181:19.790189.084
54Lando NorrisMcLaren5716:21:011:19.918192.942
627Nico HulkenbergKick Sauber6816:36:161:20.013189.151
744Lewis HamiltonFerrari5516:19:361:20.022189.858
814Fernando AlonsoAston Martin5416:17:541:20.113190.971
916Charles LeclercFerrari4716:07:441:20.440191.517
1030Liam LawsonRacing Bulls5616:20:431:20.457190.628
115Gabriel BortoletoKick Sauber4816:09:521:20.705190.736
1218Lance StrollAston Martin5516:19:211:20.708190.67
1312Kimi AntonelliMercedes5416:18:101:20.745189.931
1423Alexander AlbonWilliams5016:11:421:20.779188.927
156Isack HadjarRacing Bulls4816:10:061:20.802189.903
1643Franco ColapintoAlpine3815:55:241:20.827188.623
1722Yuki TsunodaRed Bull Racing4716:07:401:21.180188.637
1810Pierre GaslyAlpine4616:07:291:21.433188.33
1931Esteban OconHaas1715:27:201:21.916188.693
2087Oliver BearmanHaas3715:55:061:21.989187.361

2025 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings

Championship standings for Drivers’ and Teams after the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix.

2025 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings

PosDriverNationalityCarPTS
1Oscar PiastriAUSMcLaren284
2Lando NorrisGBRMcLaren275
3Max VerstappenNEDRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT187
4George RussellGBRMercedes172
5Charles LeclercMONFerrari151
6Lewis HamiltonGBRFerrari109
7Kimi AntonelliITAMercedes64
8Alexander AlbonTHAWilliams Mercedes54
9Nico HulkenbergGERKick Sauber Ferrari37
10Esteban OconFRAHaas Ferrari27
11Fernando AlonsoESPAston Martin Mercedes26
12Lance StrollCANAston Martin Mercedes26
13Isack HadjarFRARacing Bulls Honda RBPT22
14Pierre GaslyFRAAlpine Renualt20
15Liam LawsonNZLRacing Bulls Honda RBPT20
16Carlos SainzESPWilliams Mercedes16
17Gabriel BortoletoBRAKick Sauber Ferrari14
18Yuki TsunodaJPNRed Bull Racing Honda RBPT10
19Oliver BearmanGBRHaas Ferrari8
20Franco ColapintoARGAlpine Renualt0
21Jack DoohanAUSAlpine Renualt0

2025 Post-Race F1 Constructors’ Championship Standings

PosTeamPTS
1McLaren Mercedes559
2Ferrari260
3Mercedes236
4Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT194
5Williams Mercedes70
6Aston Martin Mercedes52
7Kick Sauber Ferrari51
8Racing Bulls Honda RBPT45
9Haas Ferrari35
10Alpine Renualt20

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About The Author

Staff Writer

Ben Bush
Ben

Ben is a staff writer specialising in F1 from the 1990s to the modern era. Ben has been following Formula 1 since 1986 and is an avid researcher who loves understanding the technology that makes it one of the most exciting motorsport on the planet. He listens to podcasts about F1 on a daily basis, and enjoys reading books from the inspirational Adrian Newey to former F1 drivers.

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