Lando Norris topped the final practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix as McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes emerged as the teams to beat ahead of qualifying at the Hungaroring.
With soaring track temperatures making conditions increasingly challenging, Norris delivered a late benchmark lap of 1:17.939 to finish fastest in Free Practice 3, underlining McLaren’s impressive pace around one of Formula 1’s most technical circuits.
The session suggested qualifying could be one of the closest of the season, with the leading three teams separated by less than two tenths of a second.
Norris Edges Hamilton and Antonelli
Norris left his best until the closing stages, extracting the maximum from the McLaren through the Hungaroring’s flowing middle sector to secure top spot.
Lewis Hamilton continued Ferrari’s encouraging weekend by finishing second, just 0.117 seconds behind the McLaren driver. The seven-time World Champion once again looked comfortable behind the wheel, giving Ferrari genuine hopes of fighting for pole position.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli completed the top three for Mercedes, just 0.012 seconds behind Hamilton, reinforcing the Silver Arrows’ strong one-lap pace.
Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari, while Oscar Piastri ensured both McLarens remained inside the top five, leaving all three leading teams firmly in contention heading into qualifying.
Red Bull Searching for More Pace
Red Bull appeared to have more work to do before qualifying.
Max Verstappen could only manage seventh fastest, ending the session 0.717 seconds adrift of Norris after struggling to match the outright pace shown by McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.
George Russell split the Red Bull drivers in sixth, while Isack Hadjar finished eighth after another solid session.
The final practice hour was briefly interrupted by a red flag after Sergio Pérez stopped on circuit, disrupting the final qualifying simulations for several teams at a circuit where every lap is crucial.
Busy Morning in the Pit Lane
Several teams were also dealing with reliability concerns and lost running heading into one of the most important sessions of the weekend.
Racing Bulls endured another frustrating morning as Arvid Lindblad remained in the garage with an apparent power unit issue. The team had already broken the overnight paddock curfew to continue repairs following similar problems encountered on Liam Lawson’s car.
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto was the first driver to head out onto the circuit as he looked to recover valuable mileage after his heavy crash during Friday’s running significantly reduced his preparation.
Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was also among the early runners after suspension problems ruled him out of the entirety of Friday afternoon’s second practice session.
Qualifying Poised to Deliver
With overtaking notoriously difficult around the tight and twisting Hungaroring, Saturday’s qualifying session is expected to play a decisive role in shaping Sunday’s race.
McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes all demonstrated genuine pole position pace during FP3, with Norris, Hamilton and Antonelli separated by just 0.129 seconds at the top of the timing sheets.
If the final practice session is any indication, Formula 1 fans could be set for one of the most competitive qualifying sessions of the 2026 season as the battle for pole position heads towards a dramatic conclusion.
Tech Torque Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Qualifying Set to Deliver
McLaren may have topped the timesheets with Lando Norris, but FP3 suggests the fight for pole position is anything but settled. Ferrari continues to show impressive one-lap pace through Lewis Hamilton, while Mercedes and championship leader Kimi Antonelli remain firmly in contention.
Red Bull still has work to do after a subdued final practice, although writing off Max Verstappen would be a mistake given the team’s ability to find performance before qualifying.
With overtaking notoriously difficult around the Hungaroring, Saturday’s qualifying session could prove more decisive than Sunday’s race itself. If FP3 is anything to go by, fans are set for one of the closest pole battles of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Tech Torque Prediction: Norris takes pole by less than one tenth from Hamilton, with Antonelli completing the top three.
