Hungarian GP: McLaren lockout front row with Lando Norris pole

BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Lando Norris led teammate Oscar Piastri in McLaren's first front row lockout since 2012 in a chaotic qualifying session at the Hungaroring.

McLaren last achieved the feat at the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix, so long ago it was Lewis Hamilton's final race with the team.

Championship leader Max Verstappen will start from third position after a session which featured two red flags, one triggered by out-of-form Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.

Norris said afterward: "I am very very happy, not an easy qualifying, different conditions, always ending up on top, it's the best part of it all. I'm happy especially for the team, a one-two is even better to see so congrats to the team.

He added: "We've already got confidence, so it's not like we not a lot more of it or we are searching for it. I think we've come into this weekend and the last few and we're happy. We know we can do a good job and we've got a good car to fight for pole and that's exactly what we did today. It's a great job by the team and we've been improving every weekend, to end up on pole today is sweet."

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Perez, who's long-term future at Red Bull looks increasingly in doubt, crashed during Q1 to ensure another start at the wrong end of the grid.

Many in the paddock now think McLaren has the fastest car but the British team has failed to convert a number of opportunities since Norris' win at the Miami Grand Prix at the start of May.

With the front row secured and Perez down the order, Sunday represents a golden opportunity for McLaren to return to winning ways and to take a chunk of points out of Red Bull's shaky lead in the constructors' championship. Mercedes and Ferrari might fancy their chances of getting in the mix for a podium at least.

Piastri said afterward: "It's cool to be here, especially when you get a result like this. I think the first one-two in qualifying for McLaren for a very long time. I'm very happy of course but I missed out by two hundredths, so you think of all the little things you could've done better. But an amazing result for the team."

Carlos Sainz qualified fourth for Ferrari ahead of British Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton, as Mercedes' run of four straight pole positions at the Hungaroring came to an end.

Hamilton's teammate George Russell faces a long and frustrating Sunday afternoon after failing to make it out of Q1 following what appeared to be Mercedes not giving him enough fuel to complete a final lap at the end of that session.

Charles Leclerc was sixth in the other Ferrari ahead of Aston Martin pair Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll. RB pair Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo compounded Perez's misery by advancing to Q3.

Tsunoda crashed toward the end of the session, with his car briefly launched into the air after he ran wide and awkwardly ran over a kerb. He was unhurt in the resulting slam against the wall.

Tsunoda's incident prompted another red flag but there was enough time at the end of the session for a few drivers to attempt another timed lap.

Verstappen, without any fresh tires, opted to stay in the garage, although both McLaren and Ferrari drivers went out for a late attempt to improve.

The Dutchman said after the session: "I tried, the whole weekend we have been a little bit behind, and I think that was also the case in qualifying. I tried to make it as close as possible but unfortunately just not enough, a bit difficult to pin point why that is, I would've liked a bit more grip but it's not there at the moment.

"P3 is still very close but I just hope that for tomorrow the car is good tomorrow in the race and at least we can follow them and see what we can do there."

When asked on the close battle with other teams, he said: "I love competition but I like being on top of the competition. At the moment I feel like we are chasing and having a few more difficult weekends, I don't back out of a fight but it's just a tricky situation I guess."

Ricciardo was another of the drivers to go out but he crossed the start-finish line just after the session clock had expired, but he will start from 10th with seemingly a golden opportunity to outline his credentials to return to Red Bull as Perez's replacement.